Short answers, pulled from the story.
The Ministry of Science and Higher Education (Russia) began operations in May 2018 following a government decision to split the previous Ministry of Education and Science. This new entity replaced the former single agency that had existed since March 2004.
Mikhail Kotyukov served as the inaugural minister of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (Russia) after its formation in May 2018. He previously held the position of head of FANO before leading this newly created body.
Valery Falkov assumed office on the 21st of January 2020, succeeding Mikhail Kotyukov. His appointment followed a transition period where both leaders came from federal administration backgrounds rather than academia.
All institutes belonging to the Russian Academy of Sciences now fall under the direct authority of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (Russia). State control extends to every university-level educational institution within the federation.
The ministry maintains its primary operations within buildings located in Moscow. All major policy decisions originate from this single geographic location which serves as the hub for official documentation and legal filings.