Andrei Bocharov started by thanking the President for finding the time in his busy schedule to visit the heroic land of Stalingrad, an undefeated city, and for paying tribute to the defenders of the Fatherland ahead of the big holiday, the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory.
The Governor described preserving historical memory and heritage as an essential mission. He said that in accordance with the Presidential instruction, all Great Patriotic War participants living in the Volgograd Region were awarded the title of Honorary Citizen. Communities which excelled during the Battle of Stalingrad and demonstrated mass heroism or accomplished labour feats were awarded the designation of Stalingrad Valour Outpost, as proposed by the veterans. Eight communities have already received this designation.
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Andrei Bocharov went on to report that a large body of archival documents on the Battle of Stalingrad was declassified ahead of the Victory Day celebrations. They shed light on the crimes perpetrated by the Nazis and their accomplices in and around Stalingrad. These archives led the Volgograd Regional Court to recognise crimes targeting civilians from this region as an act of genocide against the people of the Soviet Union. As many as 360,000 people from Stalingrad and the Stalingrad Region were recognised as victims of genocide. A book has been published on these crimes under the title Stalingrad: No Statute of Limitations. The Governor presented its first copy to the President.
Andrei Bocharov also spoke about the region’s efforts to assist and support military units tasked with fulfilling the objectives of the special military operation, as well as their families. The Volgograd Region offers 47 support measures and has allocated over 12 billion rubles to this effect.
Acting on behalf of the special military operation participants and all residents of the Volgograd Region, Andrei Bocharov handed over to the President relics which have acquired special importance ahead of the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory. These relics included the banner of the Immortal Stalingrad unit, which is taking part in the special military operation. All its members signed the flag. The Officer’s Atlas, 1947 edition, was also among these relics – it offers a detailed insight into the Battle of Stalingrad, as well as other military operations during the Great Patriotic War to liberate various territories from invaders, including the land where the special military operation is currently taking place.
Andrei Bocharov also said that people from the Volgograd Region and Volgograd, as well as other regions, have been frequently asking him to rename the city’s airport using its heroic designation and calling it Stalingrad Airport. The Governor asked the President to support this proposal. The President wanted to know who made it, and Andrei Bocharov responded that the request came from the veterans’ community, which includes special military operation veterans and participants.
Vladimir Putin stressed that he viewed this request as an imperative and promised that an executive order to rename the local airport to Stalingrad Airport will be drafted and signed immediately upon his return to Moscow.