Over the past three years, the State Foundation Defenders of the Fatherland has developed an effective and comprehensive system of social support for veterans of the special military operation and members of their families. According to Chairman of the Foundation’s Supervisory Board, First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Sergei Kiriyenko, veterans of the special military operation and their families have noted the effectiveness of the Foundation’s work.
In the last three years, the Foundation’s activities have expanded, new support measures have been introduced, and the assistance system has become more comprehensive and targeted. Citing sociological data, Mr Kiriyenko noted that trust in the Foundation now exceeds 90 percent.
Targeted support for veterans begins with help in accessing medical care. Veterans undergo regular examinations, which led to over 20,000 new diagnoses in 2025.
From 2025, an additional 480 educational psychologists have been recruited to provide psychological support to families with children. In acute crisis situations, specialists from the psychological service of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations are also brought in.
The Foundation places particular emphasis on supporting seriously wounded veterans. Over the past three years, more than 6,500 veterans with disabilities have been provided with technical rehabilitation equipment, including prosthetics and sports-adapted wheelchairs, various types of exercise equipment, 550 manually operated vehicles, and over 1,600 highly functional sports prostheses.
More than 3,200 flats and residential buildings have been adapted to provide comfort to veterans with disabilities of the special military operation. Since 2025, the Foundation has been providing special military operation veterans with adaptive clothing kits. A total of 2,700 such kits have been distributed.
The training, retraining and employment of special military operation veterans are becoming increasingly important. More than 22,000 veterans have applied for employment assistance, and over half are now in work. Over 15,000 requests for training and retraining have been received, with 68 percent of applicants being referred to training programmes.
Thanks to support from the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation, more than 17,000 veterans of the special military operation – including more than 4,500 with disabilities – are now regularly involved in various sports. More than 750 veterans have joined regional adaptive sports teams, and 70 have joined national adaptive sports teams.
With support from the Ministry of Digital Development, the Fatherland Defender State Information System has been launched. It enables automation of individual support plans, allows real‑time tracking of support measures, and facilitates feedback.
The Foundation’s mandate is constantly expanding. Since March last year, the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation has been supporting family members of missing special military operation personnel. Work has been organised to ensure that biological samples are submitted, identification cards completed, and psychological and legal assistance provided.
The President has supported an initiative to organise the Foundation’s project-based activities. To that end, the Foundation plans to establish a project committee within its central office. The committee will focus on systematising the preparation, implementation and support of Foundation projects, as well as participating in the development and delivery of state support programmes for veterans of the special military operation and other groups.
The President also supported the Foundation’s initiative to extend its support to include active-duty service personnel with disabilities, as well as those who took part in repelling aggression in the border regions and became disabled as a result. The Foundation will provide these defenders with technical rehabilitation equipment and adapted living quarters. Service personnel will also be involved in adaptive physical education and sport.
Last year, the Foundation’s offices began operating in large municipalities in the Moscow Region, in the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics. Their activities are organised according to the same principles and standards as regional branches.
Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic Denis Pushilin noted that the opening of municipal offices has increased the accessibility of assistance for veterans and their families. He also shared plans to open a unified regional centre for the socialisation and adaptation of veterans, which will provide comprehensive psychological and physical rehabilitation for all demobilised personnel.
The Supervisory Board is the highest collegial body of the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation. Its responsibilities include defining and approving the organisation’s priority areas of activity, approving the budget, and dealing with other organisational matters. Members of the Supervisory Board include representatives of federal and regional executive and legislative authorities, religious and charitable organisations, public figures, and journalists.
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The Defenders of the Fatherland State Foundation was established by Presidential Executive Order. Its main goal is to provide personal support to veterans of the special military operation and families of fallen heroes. The Foundation is headed by State Secretary – Deputy Minister of Defence Anna Tsivileva. Branches of the Foundation operate in all regions of Russia.
