The meeting was attended by Presidential Aide and State Council Secretary Alexei Dyumin; Chairman of the State Council Commission for Supporting Combat Veterans – Participants in the Special Military Operation and their Family Members and Governor of the Astrakhan Region Igor Babushkin; Chair of the Defenders of the Fatherland state foundation for supporting special military operation participants, State Secretary and Deputy Minister of Defence Anna Tsivileva; as well as representatives of federal authorities, heads of Russian regions, and participants in the special military operation who are graduates of the Time of Heroes programme.
In his opening remarks, Alexei Dyumin emphasised that, in order to ensure a uniform approach to the provision of support measures for participants in the special military operation and their family members across all Russian regions, Vladimir Putin had signed an Executive Order establishing a mandatory list of 15 basic regional support measures in the fields of education, social and legal protection, and other areas. The document provides for a unified approach to determining the categories of special military operation participants and their family members eligible for such support and establishes the timeframe for its provision. At the same time, regional authorities retain the right to introduce additional support measures.
One of the key issues under discussion was the improvement of the medical rehabilitation system for servicemen injured or wounded during the special military operation.
Alexei Dyumin noted that leading hospitals and research centres have accumulated unique expertise that should be rapidly disseminated nationwide to ensure that veterans of the special military operation receive the most effective treatment and rehabilitation in a timely manner. Achieving this objective requires, among other things, the establishment of effective interagency cooperation.
The Presidential Aide also stressed that, alongside medical rehabilitation – which in some cases may continue for many years – social rehabilitation, including employment, is equally important. In particular, the commission discussed the implementation of programmes aimed at promoting entrepreneurship among veterans of the special military operation, as well as improvements to the social contract mechanism.
Igor Babushkin identified the development of an information resource with simple and user-friendly navigation as one of the priority tasks. The resource will be hosted on a state digital platform, enabling veterans of the special military operation and their family members to independently access comprehensive information on federal and, potentially, regional support measures, as well as detailed guidance on where and how to obtain the relevant benefits.
Anna Tsivileva noted the consistently high demand among veterans of the special military operation for professional development opportunities in entrepreneurship. According to Tsivileva, many are interested in more flexible forms of employment and greater independence. For a significant number of veterans, entrepreneurship serves not only as a source of income but also as a means of social reintegration and a return to active life. To support veterans in launching and developing their own businesses, social coordinators from the foundation assist them in identifying suitable areas of activity, selecting training programmes, and providing guidance throughout the entire process. The sectors attracting the greatest interest include services, agriculture, and manufacturing.