Valery Limarenko began his report with instructions concerning assistance to the participants in the special military operation and their families. He spoke about the delivery of essential equipment requested by Sakhalin military units participating in the special military operation, the launch of a regional mortgage programme, under which families of more than 400 soldiers have obtained housing over the past two years, and the rehabilitation of 2,000 veterans.
The Governor also spoke about the creation of a memorial on the island of Shumshu, the site of the Soviet offensive in 1945. It was a fierce amphibious assault by Soviet forces that defeated the Japanese forces.
The discussion also touched on demographic issues. Valery Limarenko reported that the region’s birth rate ranks among the top ten in the country. The network of kindergartens and day-care nurseries is expanding, while the university has launched a child nannying course with an annual enrolment of 300 students. Several hundred major enterprises cover two-thirds of the cost of nannying services for their female employees. A range of services is also available to women with small children. The Governor touched upon a sensitive issue, noting that he personally meets with women seeking abortion due to difficult circumstances, seeing one or two such women almost every week. Women are being offered assistance in addressing the problems they face, and in two-thirds of cases, these meetings result in the birth of a child. As the Governor noted, the numbers are not big, but these are real lives that have been saved, this is genuine care for people. IVF services have also become available in the region. As a result of these and other measures, the region’s population has grown for the second year in a row, adding 2,000 people annually.
Valery Limarenko noted that Sakhalin had become an increasingly comfortable place for living, as the region ranks fifth nationally in terms of quality of life, following such highly-developed regions as Moscow, St Petersburg, Tyumen, and Tatarstan. This ranking takes into account a wide range of metrics, including healthcare, education, and other aspects of quality of life. Over the past five years, the region has built or modernised 49 healthcare facilities, 21 paramedic centres, 11 ambulatory care clinics, and three outpatient clinics, including two for children, as well as a new section of the central polyclinic, a modern emergency medical care facility, a consultative and diagnostic centre, and a new wing of the regional rehabilitation centre. This centre has a prosthetics department with modern equipment. Patients recovering from complex spinal surgeries and leg injuries are learning to walk with prostheses and undergoing comprehensive rehabilitation. The Governor also personally presents vehicles to servicemen who have lost limbs, helping them regain their independence and return to driving.
Revisiting the topic of support for participants in the special military operation, the Governor said that representatives of the region had been visiting the front since the very first day. A Mothers’ Watch initiative has been launched, trips are being organised for soldiers’ mothers, and parcels, humanitarian aid, and other supplies are being sent to the front on a regular basis. The region has launched its own Time of Heroes programme for returning personnel: they undergo professional retraining and are already working in municipal administrations and regional agencies.
The President noted that the region’s economy remains stable. The Governor emphasised that, despite certain challenges, all social commitments are fully funded. Numerous construction projects are being implemented through concession agreements, including boiler houses, water supply facilities, infrastructure projects, and polyclinics. The region is among the top five in the country in terms of wages and purchasing power.