Over the course of two years of training, 70 of the 82 graduates were appointed to various posts within state and municipal administrative bodies, state-owned enterprises, and development institutions.
* * *
President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Friends, good afternoon.
I have invited you here to discuss matters pertaining to your training and studies on the Time of Heroes platform, to address your future prospects, and to determine what further measures might be taken with regard to your professional development and employment.
However, I must begin by addressing the tragic events of which you are doubtless aware, namely, the recent incident in the Lugansk People's Republic.
Last night, the neo-Nazi regime that seized power in Kiev perpetrated a terrorist attack on a student dormitory at the Starobelsk Pedagogical College. The attack was carried out while the students were asleep.
According to the reports I have been receiving on an ongoing basis from Head of the Republic Leonid Pasechnik, the Minister of Defence, the Emergencies Minister, and the Director of the Federal Security Service, current information indicates that six people were killed, 39 were injured, and 15 remain missing, as rubble clearance operations are still under way. We will, of course, provide all necessary assistance to the injured and to the families of the deceased.
I wish to underscore – and this is of particular significance – that there are no military installations, special services facilities, or related agencies in the vicinity of the dormitory. Therefore, there are no grounds for claiming that the projectiles struck the building as a result of our air defence or electronic warfare systems. No one can assert that the attackers were attempting to strike a certain target and that the UAVs, having been intercepted by our own systems, allegedly struck this building by accident. The strike was deliberate; it was carried out in three waves, involving 16 UAVs, all directed at the same location.
Naturally, we will investigate the details, and they will be thoroughly examined. Appropriate conclusions will be drawn. However, it is clear to us, and it is once again made evident, whom we are dealing with, whom we are fighting against, and what we are fighting for. This constitutes a manifestation of neo-Nazism. It once again serves to confirm the terrorist nature of the Kiev regime.
In this regard, I want to appeal once again to the service members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as I have done before: do not follow the criminal orders of that illegitimate, thieving junta. Otherwise, you, too, become complicit in their crimes.
And yes, the reasons for this kind of criminal behaviour from the Kiev regime are clear – you know them better than anyone. It is the constant failures at the front. The loss of positions, of towns, of territory. The situation on the battlefield for the Ukrainian forces is gradually going from difficult and critical to catastrophic. Western aid is not helping – it gets stolen on a regular basis, they just cannot help themselves. Neither is forced mobilisation, where they snatch people off the streets like stray dogs and then throw them to the frontline. And on that note, desertion is also rising – catastrophically for the enemy. It is becoming widespread.
What makes things even worse for the ruling elite is the all-consuming corruption that is rotting society from within – corruption the regime’s leaders are covering for. In reality, they are participants in these corrupt schemes themselves. That is why they then help each other flee the country, seeking refuge in Israel and elsewhere abroad. Everyone – in Ukraine and around the world – knows that the Ukrainian government is corrupt through and through. Embezzlement everywhere. It has got to the point where they are stealing military equipment and personal protective gear meant for those being driven to the front like cattle, sent to die for the very people who are plundering Ukraine and its foreign aid.
The Kiev regime clearly needs crimes like this. They need them to distract attention from what is happening at the front and inside the country, to provoke a reaction from Russia – and then, we know this, we have seen it many times before – to blame everything on us. On Russia. On our country. All the escalation, all the consequences of such crimes. I repeat, we have been here many times before.
Nevertheless, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been instructed to inform international organisations and the international community about this crime. But of course, you and I both understand that in cases like this, we cannot limit ourselves to statements from the Foreign Ministry. That is why the Ministry of Defence has been ordered to submit its proposals.
And now I would like to ask you to rise and honour the memory of the fallen.
(A moment of silence.)
My friends.
You, more than anyone, know what it means to lose loved ones. To lose comrades. You have been through the crucible of severe trials – through military action, combat operations, war. That is precisely why I once said that people like you, those who have endured these difficult trials, should form the core of our future leaders. People like you. Your brothers in arms. Regardless of religion or ethnicity, all of us, citizens of Russia, people like you should be, above all else, what the people call the salt of the Russian land. Because you have proven – and no further proof is needed – your devotion to the Motherland. Your readiness to fight for it, for its interests. Your readiness to sacrifice yourself, if necessary.
I know and understand perfectly well the real situation, on the ground, I know it. There are many problems, they always abound, and they are everywhere. Still, this does not rule out what I have just said, but on the contrary, this means what I said way back in 2024, at the beginning when I met students participating in the special military operation, in St Petersburg, I said that looking at you, people, who are well prepared intellectually and have gone through such serious trials, that the future of the country should be passed on to the hands like yours; it is necessary to pass it on to you.
We started with one of such trial that is happening right now or has happened, and we will get through them; we will get through all of them. There are no doubts about it. And later, all of us, primarily you, the people of your generation and those who will follow you should take the country into their hands, develop it in all areas, and defend it. I am sure that relying on you, people like you, we will attain this shared noble goal. Russia has always lived through most difficult trials, and this has always been possible thanks to the people who can assume the responsibility.
You probably already know that there are such people in this hall, already three persons, who have taken on the leadership of three Russian constituent entities. Those, who have stood the harsh trials of the war and fire are already working in Russian regions, heading municipalities, cities and settlements. As far as I know, 11of them are working in the Presidential Executive Office and major companies.
We will continue to do everything for the people, who have been through these trials (you and the people like you), to assume more and more responsibility. Many [of them] work at the representative bodies of power and some will take part in the elections to the State Duma. We will definitely support you.
As I mentioned at the beginning, it would certainly be helpful—and I would appreciate it—if you could tell me about your training, share any suggestions you may have, and offer any feedback on how the courses went and how the training proceeded. I know that you had good, high-level teachers and you had on-the-job training.
Here is what I would like to say in conclusion. It would be right, believe me, if, regardless of the fields in which you work, you never forget what brotherhood in arms means. Even while pursuing different professional paths, preserving this sense of unity and camaraderie remains profoundly important.
First and foremost, engaging with people from diverse professional backgrounds broadens one’s perspective and helps foster sound judgment and timely decision-making. You possess everything necessary for this: intellectual potential, strength of character, and a readiness to embrace challenges. The very fact that many of you made the decision, to transition into an entirely different sphere of activity – sometimes directly from the battlefield, as they say, – and take on the responsibilities of public service demonstrates courage and determination. It shows your willingness to face new challenges and your readiness to overcome these challenges. You are not deterred by the possibility that something may appear wrong, ineffective, or poorly timed. This means you can make difficult decisions and accept responsibility for them. That is an exceptionally important quality.
I sincerely wish you success. And, as I mentioned at the beginning, I would very much like to hear your thoughts on how the training process unfolded, what proved most effective, and what improvements could be made to enhance it further.
Please, feel free to begin. We have no strict protocol here. Whoever would like to speak first, please, go ahead.
Igor Yurgin: Good evening, Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Sir!
Major Yurgin, assault detachment commander in the special military operation. Currently, I head the Department of Education, Extracurricular Education, and Children’s Recreation at the Ministry of Education.
Mr President,
I have never thought I would be involved in educating children. Education is another front for us – ideological one – where we fight for the hearts and minds of our children.
Thanks to the Time of Heroes programme, we studied best practices in the regions and federal agencies, worked in interdepartmental groups on education, and studied the legal framework. During our visits to various regions, we met with many different children and received vast and priceless experience on how to interact with them.
So, an essential thought came to me: when facing a certain challenge like today, the country cannot give up, and we have to teach our children with our own example to defend their rights and the Fatherland.
I have recently had my first child, my son Yaropolk.
Vladimir Putin: Congratulations. (Applause.)
Igor Yurgin: Thank you. I have become even more deeply aware of my responsibility for the education and upbringing of the younger generation.
You once said that we must become the country’s new elite. Together with the participants of the Time of Heroes programme, we pondered on what elite is and what qualities define it. Perhaps the most essential quality is the willingness to fight to the very end, both in battle and in labour, in service of the country, within the sphere entrusted to you.
Today, eleven participants are present here – alumni of the Time of Heroes programme who are actively engaged in educational work. Five among them are Heroes of Russia, serving on key positions. We are all combat officers, and we fully understand the magnitude of the responsibility placed upon us. We understand that roads can be built and factories established, but we cannot afford to lose the future generation.
We are working directly on the ground. The objectives before us are clear, and we stand ready to fight for the next generation of patriots.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you.
You mentioned fighting for our children and their minds as a new frontline, and I totally agree with that.
You understand and you know how complex the present-day environment is. It is packed full of all kinds of rubbish, and this rubbish reaches millions of people. This poses a grave danger for young people considering how hard and challenging it is for them to parse through all this. But they can still succeed as long as they have a role model they can follow, and you were right to say it.
When there is a role model and when it is not just someone somewhere saying something, but instead a battle-seasoned officer who also, on top of that, happens to have a Hero of Russia star on his chest – and you do not get this kind of decoration for nothing – when this person can tell a youngster to sit there and listen what you have to tell him, contradicting these wording or talking back is hardly an option. Therefore, the ability to go the whole nine yards is very important, especially on the frontline.
You know, here is what I wanted to stress. Mastering the skill of constant learning and improvement is instrumental. There is also the need to teach others, and you will probably agree with me on this point. As your child grows, you will view the child as a genius – this is what all parents think, that their children are geniuses. However, it is also true that new generations are always different compared to the previous ones, which is especially true today when we have these intense information flows and children get exposed to them at a very early age. In order to be diligent and persuasive, mastering the skill of learning something new every day is, of course, very important. It is so hard to educate and influence young people without building up their knowledge base and without exercising personal authority, but it can be done on a system-wide basis. Judging by what you have said and the way you framed this matter, you will definitely succeed in your efforts.
Thank you, and good luck!
Igor Yurgin: Thank you very much.
Vladislav Golovin: Mr President, good afternoon. Guards Captain Vladislav Golovin.
I was wounded during the special military operation but continued to serve as a faculty member at the Ryazan Paratrooper Command Academy, and by also holding the lessons of courage at schools. At the time, I thought that I will focus on these undertakings in my professional journey.
However, when the Time of Heroes programme was launched at your initiative, it served as a major impetus. It included an educational programme, offered an opportunity to discover the best practices and management solutions used by executives at all levels, as well as to have an open dialogue with senior government officials and heads of the regions of Russia. There was also an internship at the Presidential Executive Office and being able to interact face-to-face with a mentor and to benefit from this mentorship. All this helped me understand what I want to do in life, which of course, consists of defending the interests of our country.
In December 2024, I was elected Chief of Staff of the Yunarmiya movement. Further training and professional involvement helped me deepen my knowledge in managing the apparatus of this nationwide organisation, project work, and building cooperation between government agencies, public associations, and partners. A good example of this is the Zarnitsa 2.0 national military-patriotic game, organised by the Yunarmiya movement together with the Movement of the First, and the Warior Centre. Today, we offer our younger generation the opportunity to learn something new, master and demonstrate their skills in operating unmanned systems, tactical medicine, firearms, engineering training, and many other elements of basic military training. Of course, we are also doing this as part of the movement’s systematic work.
Incidentally, on May 28, the Yunarmiya movement celebrates its 10th anniversary.
Mr President,
Allow me to respectfully ask that you deliver a welcoming address to all members of the movement. I would also like to note that all Yunarmiya members are actively engaged in the life of our country and contribute in areas of national importance. Leaders and educators are deeply committed to fostering a new generation of achievers and patriots. We are especially proud that Yunarmiya alumni and leaders are participating in the special military operation, and that six among them have been awarded the title of Hero of Russia. On a personal level, and on behalf of all Yunarmiya members, I would like to express our sincere gratitude for your support.
Returning to the subject of our programme, I would like to note that the knowledge and practical experience we acquired enabled both me and the other participants to better identify and understand the issues that require our focused attention. Today, we stand prepared to take a new step forward, as 13 members of our cohort have decided to run for election to the State Duma of the Russian Federation.
I am confident that each participant’s principled approach to addressing the challenges before them will make a meaningful contribution to the development of our country and, of course, to the wellbeing of society.
Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation,
Standing with my comrades, I wish to assure you that, as soldiers in service of our country, we stand ready to support all your decisions, knowing that the interests of Russia remain your highest priority. For our part, as officers of the Armed Forces, we remain the shield of Russia – and will be its sword if necessary.
Thank you for your trust.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you. Have a seat, please.
Several remarks, if I may.
First, work within the Yunarmiya framework is essential. Patriotic education, which is at the heart of Yunarmiya’s mission, is one of the fundamental pillars of educational work with young people. When approached thoughtfully, professionally, and without excessive pressure, its results can be highly meaningful and important for the country and its future.
However, there is one thing I would like to note. You mentioned that you are learning how to manage administrative structures. I sincerely urge you not to become an apparatchik. Bureaucracy and red tape are among the greatest obstacles to meaningful educational work and an educator’s greatest adversary. Everything must be done with conviction, sincerity, and personal commitment. As I have just told one of the colleagues, constant self-improvement is essential. One must also be persuasive. Without that, tangible results cannot be achieved.
Now, regarding the elections to the State Duma. At different points in time, public viewed those serving in this representative institution in various manner: criticism has existed, among all sorts of other attitudes. Yet the institution of parliamentarism remains profoundly important within the broader system of public governance. These are the individuals who, together with the Government, participate directly in developing legislative acts that regulate public life across every sphere: the economy, social policy, defence, and security.
For this reason, it is critically important to bring along and support people like you during the election campaign. It is also important to take along all your positive qualities, such as a constructive outlook, readiness to work diligently, willingness to assume responsibility, and, sometimes, the determination to see matters through to completion. These are indispensable traits in political life, but not sufficient on their own. Those entering public service, including representative and legislative institutions, must possess the necessary knowledge, preparation, and willingness to work tirelessly and to develop as a person, in order to meet – I repeat once again – the expectations of the people who elect you.
When I say that we will support you in every possible way, I mean both the Presidential Executive Office and myself personally. Ultimately, however, the final decision belongs to the people whose interests you seek to represent in parliament.
I would like to wish you luck.
Please.
Vladimir Saibel: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Mr President.
My name is Vladimir Saibel, I am a career officer from a military dynasty. I was called up in 2022 and served on the frontline from day one. But in 2024, after a serious injury, I came back to civilian life. Then, in the spring, I joined the first cohort of the Time of Heroes federal programme. At our first meeting in June 2024, I gave you my word as an officer: I told you then that I want to be useful to our country, that I can be useful, and I will be – and that I would take on board everything the Time of Heroes programme has to offer. And I have kept my word. I will continue to do so.
Today, my frontline is the social sector – that is where I work now. But I am not on my own, Mr President. From our Time of Heroes cohort, there are about eight of us working in this field. So, in my role as Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Commission on Veteran Affairs, the most pressing issue is, of course, support for participants in the special military operation, combat veterans, and, of course, veterans of the Great Patriotic War and home front workers. I am also still working at Russian Railways, where I am currently in charge of social support for special military operation veterans and their families.
There is another layer to the work I have been immersed into since 2024, as a member of the United Russia General Council and the person overseeing the People’s Programme for Supporting Participants in the Special Military Operation and Their Families. I have immersed myself completely in this work, and I now understand all the difficulties and, shall we say, the finer complexities involved.
In September 2026, as you have already mentioned, I believe we are facing a crucial moment for our country: the elections to the State Duma and the regional legislative bodies. Naturally, a new People’s Programme for United Russia is being developed. And it is being shaped by proposals from the public. More than a million of those proposals have already come in, and the lion’s share of them are about support for participants in the special military operation.
The People’s Programme will, of course, be put together and analysed. As a member of the expert council, I will present all the proposals, already analysed and shortlisted, to the party leadership. However, I have decided to make an appeal to the party leadership and my fellow party members: there is no need to wait for the People’s Programme to be formally approved. Because most of these proposals – which come from real individuals – are not systemic in nature. Sometimes they are more of a cry from the heart, a pain point, a specific suggestion about a small issue. And those issues need to be addressed now, on the ground, thereby showing our civic commitment through action.
Those who run for posts, especially special military operation veterans, are playing a special role here. As my brother-in-arms Vlad Golovin has already noted, I’m one of the people from my year who decided to run for the State Duma. Your observation is correct: today, it is important not only to understand the agenda deeply but to apply the knowledge you have and develop as a professional. Therefore, I have made this decision to expand the front of my service to the Fatherland as a deputy if the public supports me.
But, Mr President, I have been intently considering: what else can I do for the people, our citizens, especially my brothers-in-arms and the younger generation, besides studying and my busy work schedule? I have decided to write a book about the heroism of my brothers-in-arms – and about the values and traditions that were instilled by my parents and my father, in particular. About faith and what it can be, about honour, duty, and combat brotherhood, as you said. I am putting all this on paper. Of course, I will gift the first copy to my parents, my father. But, Mr President, if you allow me, I want to present the second copy to you personally.
Thank you.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much. Please, sit down.
I want to say a few things if I may.
First of all, people in our country have traditionally treated defenders of the Fatherland with immense respect at all times. This has been true since the beginning of times. If you look at the walls – not here but in St George’s Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace – they are lined with marble plaques dedicated to specific divisions, with years and military conflicts where those divisions fought and defended the Fatherland. Some of these plaques feature actual names. Perhaps few people know about this but it is another indication of the fact that in Russia, people have always shown great respect for those who selflessly sacrificed their health like you or their lives like some of our fighters who gave their lives for the sake of the Motherland, fighting for it. It has always been true and after the Great Patriotic War as well. You have mentioned Great Patriotic War veterans and home front labourers. Their role was also to protect the Motherland. Once again, it has always been true.
But right now, we have an opportunity to make a contribution and even open a new chapter in this social work. I am now approaching the matter of your social work in particular. In the past, there were no platforms or educational projects like the Time of Heroes. Yes, there was help available – although not always. For example, there was a period of quite complicated sentiments towards Afghan War veterans. Great Patriotic War veterans have always been able to rely on help. But no dedicated sector for such work existed before. We have a chance to create it today. The times were different then, and today we have the capacity – and it is our duty – to achieve that.
Social work is one of the components of this work. I want to stress that social work may concern a specific individual but it serves not only this person’s interests but the interests of the entire society because, when society today can see this special treatment enjoyed by the people in need of state support after sacrificing themselves for national interests, it becomes a lesson for the entire society today and in the future. Future generations will treat the country as the country treats them. It is an extremely important sector.
Now, I want to speak about government work, including work in representative authorities. You said that you encounter specific situations that concern specific individuals. As you said, it may be a cry from the heart of a particular person. True, it does concern a specific individual and, of course, one must focus on helping this person. But such situations do not arise out of nowhere. These situations, these cries from the heart, what causes them? They are caused by a failure in the social support system, in the economic relations or, say, in the housing and utilities system – any area where a person faces problems or injustice. It is a result of a system failure. If you become a State Duma deputy, you must address this matter – as must your colleagues. Both representative authorities, the Government – and the State Duma closely cooperates with the Government – in fact, the forming of the Government now depends more on State Duma deputies than in the past. Take note that since the constitutional amendments, the forming of the Government is more dependent on State Duma deputies. Responsibility across all areas emerges. One should look for a specific failure or lack of the system regulation that causes such cries for help. It is an important and very interesting work. I wish you good luck.
As for the book, it is an excellent idea. If you have started on it, you must have realised that nothing brings as much satisfaction as creative work. Good luck.
Vladimir Saibel: Thank you.
Lyudmila Yemelyanova: Good afternoon, Mr President.
My name is Lyudmila Yemelyanova. I am an anesthesiologist and emergency care physician, First Lieutenant of the Medical Service.
I started out in civilian healthcare but in October 2022, I could not remain uninvolved and submitted my application to a draft centre. In 2023, I was drafted, and I found myself where I was most needed – in the zone of the special military operation. I was doing what I can do best, providing medical help to our military personnel.
During my service, I watched medical services being provided across different stages of evacuation. I was wondering whether there is a coordinated work between military and civilian medicine, and whether civilian medicine gets involved in helping the military. Because our experience shows that neither military nor civilian medicine can autonomously and fully tackle their challenges in the conditions of an intense military conflict. Thanks to the programme you established and of which I am an alumnus, I was lucky enough to learn more about this topic and find answers to my questions. Thanks to my mentor, I ended up in the State Council Commission on Support of Special Military Operation Veterans and Participants. I also completed an internship in a district of the Moscow Region with a large number of military and civilian healthcare facilities. It was my opportunity to see the reality of their cooperation.
A great deal has been achieved and much is still in progress. There is no limit to perfection, as they say. I believe that improving coordination between military and civilian healthcare is one of the most relevant issues right now. As Adviser to the Deputy Governor of the Moscow Region for Social Policy, I continue to deal with these matters at a higher professional level while using my skills in administration.
I want to thank you for creating this programme and for the knowledge we have obtained. Most importantly, I hope that we will be able to fulfill all our ambitions.
Thank you very much.
Vladimir Putin: As for medicine and medical help for people, medicine is medicine. Obviously, military medicine has its specifics pertaining to particular injuries and other aspects.
In the modern world, if we want to maximise potential, we must use all opportunities offered by the state, and all the resources available in civilian medicine, military medicine, or the medicine of the Defence Ministry. The Defence Ministry’s healthcare system is developing and quite successfully. It has a very solid foundation, too. It will suffice to recall how it started. Look at the history of the Academy of Military Medicine in St Petersburg and you will understand the depth of Russian military healthcare.
It goes without saying that the provision of full-fledged medical help requires the whole scope of resources. I have asked Anna Tsivilyova and the Minister of Defence to cooperate hand in glove with the Healthcare Ministry. And I should note that civilian medicine has never denied requests for help. On the contrary, I have received requests for advancing coordination with Defence Ministry medical facilities. In my opinion, this work is better set up today than it was in 2022. But I am certain there is room for improvement.
Therefore, I believe you have found yourself in the right place. I mean that you started in civilian medicine and later, you saw military medicine in action on the battlefield. It is very important to integrate this experience and your understanding of measures to maximise medical assistance. I wish you great success.
If you have any suggestions that you do not want to voice publicly, you can tell me in private, so that nobody gets offended, okay?
Lyudmila Yemelyanova: Yes, sir.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you.
Go ahead, please.
Yevgeny Pervyshov: Mr President,
The two years of the Time of Heroes programme went by in an instant, but let me assure you that all its participants benefited a lot from it. I would like to use this opportunity, first and foremost, to say on my personal behalf and on behalf of all my comrades who are here today how grateful we are to you, and to thank you from all my heart for the unique project we have been given a chance to experience.
There used to be a stereotype that people retiring from the military could serve only in specific municipal jobs, for example in conscription offices or work with veteran organisations, and, to be honest, I also shared this stereotype, Mr President. But the Time of Heroes refuted this vision.
As you have already said in the beginning, I wanted to point out that the 25 participants in this programme who are here in this room today work in municipalities across our country. For example, Yury Abayev is Minister of Labour and Social Development in Northern Ossetia, Oleg Lymar is Minister of Sport in Sevastopol, and Alexander Surazov is Minister for Youth Policy and Sports in Altai. Today, many young people have already assumed responsible positions in federal executive agencies, including the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Sports, and the Ministry of Natural Resources.
Mr President, we have been keeping in touch with one another and talking to each other on the phone in order to help one another when dealing with important matters of government within our immediate purview. Let me assure you that we have become a single team, just as you have said, Mr President. And this is your team. It goes without saying that your personal involvement and participation is a source of inspiration for all of us, and we will do everything to follow your lead – make no mistake about that.
Today, all the regions of the Russian Federation have their own programmes, which are similar to the Time of Heroes. All the regions supported this programme and these offshoots have also been carried out quite effectively. We are already taking part in many of these programmes by sharing our experience and knowledge. As you have said, there will be no results unless we invest yourselves into this undertaking and add your personal touch. We would like to assure you that we will demonstrate the highest level of commitment and will contribute to these efforts as much as possible. Thank you.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you. Please, take your seat. How have you been getting along in your new job?
Yevgeny Pervyshov: Very well, Mr President. I have recently reported to you about that. There are some nuances though, just as with any other undertaking.
Vladimir Putin: Good.
Considering what you have said, there are two points I want to make. You talked about the importance of avoiding stereotypes, at least this was how you articulated this idea. I would like to say that I share this vision. There are many stereotypes, and relying on specific patterns and stereotypes can make our everyday lives and work easier. That said, these stereotypes often fail to produce the expected results. Stereotypes are based on past experiences, while what we need is a forward-looking perspective. You have mentioned, even if passingly, two things, but I would like to draw your attention to them. Most of the discoveries and achievements in today’s world, for example, in research, are interdisciplinary and result from combining various fields of knowledge. This is something which must be taken into consideration in our day-to-day efforts. This was the first point I wanted to make.
Second, as everyone keeps saying these days, the ability to work as a team is instrumental. This offers a pathway for achieving the best results. You said that you keep in touch by calling your colleagues, your comrades in arms on the phone, and that you had a sense of belonging to a team. I was glad to hear that you also mentioned the team we all belong to. So I suggest that we keep working along these lines as a team.
I wish you every success.
Yevgeny Pervyshov: Yes, Sir!
Nursultan Myssagaleyev: Good afternoon, Mr Putin.
My name is Nursultan Myssagaleyev. I am a Hero of the Russian Federation. For more than a year now, I have been heading the Novosergiyevsky District in the Orenburg Region. This is where I come from, this is where I was born and grew up.
Quite often, special military operation veterans succeed when they start serving in municipalities in various positions, and you have talked about what makes this so important many times. Three more members of our cohort in the Time of Heroes programme have continued to serve at the municipal level in their home regions. This is a great responsibility.
Integrating special military operation participants into our teams is another priority for us. I would like to share a personal example about a friend of mine, my comrade in arms. We carried out combat missions together – I am speaking about Hero of the Russian Federation Alexander Viselkov. We overcame various challenges together while fighting shoulder to shoulder and entrusted each other with our lives. Today, we continue our service at the municipal level.
My advice for people taking part in federal and regional programmes would be to start with municipal service. Working in municipalities means being closer to the people and getting a better insight into the issues they face, while also being able to see the results of your efforts right away.
Mr President, having followed the Time of Heroes programme for two years, we have learnt a lot and acquired a lot of skills regarding our service in civilian jobs. We had a chance to visit many regions across our country and had internships in various federal executive agencies. Most importantly, we acquired many contacts among our colleagues and senior officials. Today, we use the knowledge and skills we acquired during this programme when performing our jobs. I would like to extend a big thank you to you for that on behalf of all the participants in the Time of Heroes programme.
Mr President,
As it has already been said, we all belong to a single team, your team. We performed our combat missions well and effectively, we defended our Motherland, and have no right to let you down or our country now that we work in civilian jobs.
Thank you very much.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you. Please, take your seat.
You have said that you are working at the municipal level, and that your advice would be for everyone to start out this way. I would like to support what you said. Let me tell you why. In fact, working at the municipal level, being able to interact directly with the people, and in your case in your homeland – is that so?
Nursultan Myssagaleyev: Yes, Sir!
Vladimir Putin: …makes this twice or even three times more challenging and requires a lot of responsibility. Why do you think this is so? People always expect solutions even if the challenges they face may seem insignificant in terms of state policy, but they matter and have to be addressed when it comes to a specific person or a household. This is not always an easy thing to do, or I would rather say that it is the contrary. It is always a challenge, since people come to you with all the problems they have, but you cannot always resolve these issues at the municipal level. This deals with funding sources, and all the other aspects, and what the municipalities can or cannot do. Therefore, this is the most complex and the most responsible operational level. Of course, being able to work in municipalities in order to understand how it all works on the ground is a very valuable experience. It is also a very useful and positive experience when working at other levels, including in federal agencies. Therefore, I sincerely wish you every success. The fact that you were not afraid to assume this kind of responsibility is great.
I do hope that there will be very few mistakes. There is no way to avoid them. But do you know what the guiding principle must be in this case? It is about being sincere in your commitment to helping and serving people. When people see this, they will forgive any mistake, as long as there is a desire to support specific people. In your case, this is about supporting your fellow countrymen and help them overcome the challenges they face. Our people are smart enough and have keen understanding and delicate souls. You will see their positive feedback, and they will support you.
I wish you every success.
Nursultan Myssagaleyev: Thank you.
Maria Musatova: Mr President,
I am Maria Musatova, first lieutenant of the Medical Corps, a commissioned officer. In 2021, I graduated from the Military Medical Academy, and since the first days of the special military operation in 2022 I was providing medical services in the combat zone.
Now, thanks to your instruction, we are facing you in this room. Everyone here speaks about a team, however, I will speak about a family. Mr President, you have created a family. We attended thousands of hours of lectures, we heard hundreds of speakers, and we undertook over ten educational expeditions during these two years. Aboard icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy we reached the North Pole, we visited Sakhalin, the island of Iturup and Altai, we toured a submarine in Severodvinsk, and just the other day we came back from St Petersburg. All that knowledge and experience are now enabling us to start serving in public administration.
I am currently working with the Executive Office of the Russian Government under the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of social affairs. In 2022, my efforts were each time directed at a single individual – each time I was helping someone I saw the face of that person. Now I do not see the faces but the awareness that my work is affecting thousands and millions of people carries enormous responsibilities and also gives comfort and peace to my soul because I realise that I am where should be at the moment.
My mentor told me at our first meeting that you were her mentor. The meaning of this phrase has a particular value for me because it is crucial for every person to find a mentor in their life, someone you can rely on, you are attracted to and align with, and someone who will support you at the right time.
There is a major focus in present-day Russia on developing the mentorship system in education, medicine and other sectors – this is one of the most important pillars for training qualified personnel and good people overall.
Mr President, thank you very much for giving us an opportunity to learn from the best executives of the country. I also appreciate the efforts of all those who contributed to our progress throughout these two years. We will keep advancing; this is just the beginning.
Thank you very much.
Vladimir Putin: Ms Musatova, you in your today’s work you do not see specific people or faces at this level of your engagement. Meanwhile, the essence of the school you have completed, the Time of Heroes platform, is to engage at different levels of administration in various areas people who saw concrete faces including under extreme conditions, who came through trials, so that they can use this experience when serving in state municipal agencies in different economic and administrative roles.
I hope everything goes well for you, I am confident that this will be the case and I wish you success. Give my best regards to your mentors.
Maria Musatova: Thank you.
Temirlan Abutalimov: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief, good afternoon.
Guards Senior Lieutenant Temirlan Abutalimov.
Since this year is the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia, I would like to share my story from the special military operation zone.
When you declared partial mobilisation in autumn 2022, I decided to sign up as a volunteer and to head to the line of contact. Once I got there, I was assigned to serve in an assault company, and Yevgeny Gruzdev, a man from Siberia whose callsign was Omsk, commanded our unit. It did not take long before he made a real combat officer out of me. He also became my comrade in arms, my elder brother, and a mentor, too.
On June 27, 2023, in the midst of a harsh battle in the Zaporozhye area, Yevgeny Gruzdev sent me on a combat mission, while he assumed my functions during my absence. Unfortunately, a direct impact by a tank shell killed him. He performed his military duty as long as he lived. When he died, I took over the company as its commander and started using Omsk as a callsign – this was my way of paying tribute to him. After that the assault company under my command destroyed two companies of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in two months and defended a strategic line for a month.
I maintain close contacts with his parents, who brought up a real man in their family. He showed us what it means to be a true officer. This means fighting the whole nine yards and defending your subordinates, and sometimes sacrificing your life for them.
On December 7, 2023, Yevgeny Gruzdev’s parents in the Omsk Region received the gold star of the Hero of the Russian Federation. It was awarded posthumously. Supreme Commander-in-Chief, on December 19 of the same year, you bestowed this award on me in person at the National Defence Control Centre. This is primarily an award for fighters who can have very different ethnic backgrounds but who form a single and united mechanism when performing their combat missions and defending our country’s sovereignty and independence, just like our forefathers during the Great Patriotic War.
When I had to choose my internship as part of the Time of Heroes programme, I did not think twice before opting for my home region, the Republic of Daghestan. On September 1, 2025, I got an appointment as Acting Minister for Ethnic Affairs and Religion in the republic. Today, I am in charge of coordinating relations between various religious denominations in the most ethnically diverse region of our country. Daghestan is home to over 30 indigenous ethnic groups and over 110 peoples with their unique languages and dialects, culture and rich traditions.
I would like to thank you, Mr President, for the special care you have offered to my home region. You have always been there for Daghestan. This is how it was in 1999 when international terrorists invaded the republic, and the same is true today when spring floods made it impossible for people to live their everyday lives and destroyed their houses and businesses. Thousands of people from Vladivostok to Kaliningrad rushed to help my republic.
The Time of Heroes programme helped me serve my Motherland and my multi-ethnic republic.
Daghestan has been holding many events to mark the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia. I would like to say that the unity of our people is becoming stronger every year. It has emerged as our main pillar.
I would like to end my remarks, Mr President, with a quote from a poem by our beloved poet Rasul Gamzatov, who wrote: “I like all the peoples. The one who dares, who tries to denigrate any ethnicity be cursed three times.”
This ends my report.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you.
You have mentioned your combat work with your friends and comrades and recalled your commander, who was killed in the Zaporozhye area. However, you should for sure be aware that currently, our servicemen of the Vostok and Dnepr group of forces operate in the Zaporozhye area with great success, they advance each day and their advancement is quite noticeable, I would say.
What do I want to say in this regard? That all our losses and sacrifices are not in vain. There is not a single vain sacrifice or loss. Please convey the best wishes and gratitude for their son to the parents of your fallen comrade, with whom you keep in touch.
Now, to your current work. It is the most important area for the country as a whole and for such a multiethnic and multifaith republic as Daghestan. It is one of the key republics of the Russian Federation in the Caucasus, the largest in terms of population, having deep traditions of loyalty both to the small homeland Daghestan and the large one – to entire Russia.
Guys from Daghestan, just like you, with the Medal of the Hero of the Russian Federation on their chests are fighting valiantly. You know that. And you are the best confirmation of this. Right now, be it in command positions or in ordinary combat formations, or in top positions, guys from Daghestan demonstrate their best qualities as representatives of the Daghestani people.
So, the country in general is trying to respond to Daghestan in the same way. You just mentioned the events that took place in the republic in connection with the flood, the natural disaster. I hope that the new leadership will also do everything to help those affected by the flood. I expect you to join in this work too.
I wish you success.
I must say that among all areas of work the one related to building interethnic and interfaith relations is the most complicated. Issues of religious and interethnic nature are the most sensitive. And let’s be honest, for a country as complex as ours, with such a great number of peoples, with so many religions and confessions, it is maybe the most important, one of the main tasks, because only by strengthening our interethnic and interfaith unity we can preserve Russia.
I wish you every success in this domain.
Temirlan Abutalimov: Thank you very much.
Eduard Kazymov: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Mr President, I wish you good health!
My name is Eduard Kazymov, and prior to the Time of Heroes programme, I was Guards Captain, an active officer, commander of an airborne assault company of the 40th Naval Infantry Brigade.
Since March 2022, I’ve been carrying out combat missions in the special military operation zone, and right on the line of contact I was selected for the programme. That’s when I got the opportunity to prove that any person with willpower, determination and the desire to help the Fatherland can find his place in a great undertaking.
Russia is a country of opportunities for every person who is ready to study, develop, assume responsibility and make decisions.
The training programme was very interesting and intensive. Over these two years we visited various places of our country and got familiar with the best practices of governing a region.
The training process was arranged at the highest level. Top officials of our country shared experience with us so that we use only best practices in our work.
I remember the lecture by Alexei Dyumin when he told us about his transition from the military service to civilian life, what challenges he faced and how his combat experience helped him in governing the Tula Region.
Now I work in Sergei Sobyanin’s team, at an enterprise of the Moscow Government that designs and produces UAVs for the special military operation. We produce UAVs of many types, including interceptors Lis (Fox) and Yolka (Fir Tree), which help our units and mobile groups destroy enemy air targets in many regions of our country, both near the border (Kursk, Belgorod and Bryansk) and around Moscow.
I am a Deputy General Director of the company in charge of technical oversight of production. The most important thing is to make our products meet the highest standards and serve our guys properly. For me, as a person from the frontline, it is very important to see the effectiveness of my work and that it brings benefits and results.
As my comrades-in-arms said, 13 graduates in the first group will run in the State Duma elections and it is a great honour for me to be one of them. Today, I am overwhelmed with emotions. For each of us the end of training and the appointment is not just another career step, but a great responsibility to the entire country, our comrades-in-arms, our families and friends.
Mr President,
Thank you for the huge attention to the participants and veterans of the special military operation and our families, for the Time of Heroes programme and its regional versions. We understand the scale of responsibility, we will not let you down, we will work honestly for the benefit of our great country.
Thank you.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you.
You have joined a great team. Sergei Sobyanin is a very competent leader, very experienced and capable, and he chooses the same kind of people to work with him. So, if you joined such team, it means that you underwent a very strict selection process, and this reflects the high level of your training.
The fact that you work now in such an important area, you have just mentioned the UAVs well known in the army: Lis, Yolka and others, it is correct and timely. Still, we understand that there are many things to work on: they must be able to operate at night, carry radars, etc. Their efficiency is increasing, that’s true. And new systems appear which perform their missions even better. And this is the most important area of your work.
And your decision to undergo the test of the election campaign is great. I wish you and your other colleagues success, all the more so that you have worked both here and proved yourself at the frontline. People like you should be in the State Duma. Good luck.
Eduard Kazymov: Thank you very much.
Vladimir Putin: All right, let’s take it in turns. Please.
Denis Pogodin: Mr President,
I am Lieutenant Colonel Denis Pogodin, a former military pilot with the Lipetsk Aviation Centre, currently First Deputy Director General of the Lukhovitsky Aviation Plant and Director of the Ilyushin Il-114 programme.
I come from a military family. When I was a child, my father gave me a book about Soviet pilots, and aviation became part of my life ever since. I flew combat missions on modern fighter jets, and now I continue to serve the country in the aviation sector.
I am married, and we are raising three children. I have always relied on my family, while serving in the Armed Forces, and I rely on it today, as well. Last year, my eldest son enrolled at the Moscow Aviation Institute, and he is studying to be an aircraft designer. I am particularly proud of him because, as a member of the next generation, he embodies our family’s traditional interest in aviation.
My experience as a military pilot is a bridge between the plant and the sky. I can see an aircraft as a manufactured item and as a machine which should operate reliably in the air, on the airfield and in complicated weather conditions. It should also be safe as far as the crew is concerned.
The Time of Heroes programme has added operational thinking and an understanding of public administration processes to my experience. I am already making use of the knowledge about project management and lean production processes in my work. I would like to thank you for this programme, and I would like to thank my mentor, the First Deputy Prime Minister, for the attention and support during the training process and my development in the current position. It is a great honour to have such a high-ranking mentor. I am confident that our future work with him will prove very fruitful.
It is now necessary to ensure the Russian aviation sector’s technological sovereignty and to manufacture new home-made aircraft. My key project, the Il-114 regional airliner, is a practical step in this direction. This modern, reliable and fuel-efficient plane is set to replace the obsolete Antonov An-24 and An-26 aircraft and foreign-made Bombardiers and ATRs.
The destinies of the Lukhovitsky Aviation Plant and the new aircraft are inextricably linked. Batch manufacturing of these aircraft has already been launched at this production facility. State customers have already become interested in this aircraft, and this is another important area of our activities.
We are planning to showcase the plane at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, and we would be extremely delighted if you could come and take a look at it personally.
Mr President,
Today, after completing the programme, many of us got our appointments in various spheres and sectors. Knowing our team, our comrades-in-arms, I am confident that all objectives will be accomplished. I serve Russia!
Vladimir Putin: I will try to come and take a look at your aircraft. Where is the exhibition located?
Denis Pogodin: To the best of my knowledge, we will be showcasing it in Pulkovo.
Vladimir Putin: So, I will have to travel to Pulkovo. I would really like to see it.
Denis Pogodin: We will be looking forward to seeing you.
Vladimir Putin: My programme is probably quite packed and includes numerous events, but I will give it a try. Thank you very much for the invitation.
I would like to wish you every success on this path – one that is undoubtedly important, challenging, and engaging. The fact that you are involved in aircraft manufacturing while also having the experience of a combat pilot is especially valuable.
You know, I will not speak at length, but I would like to note one thing. You mentioned your mentor, and, as I understand it, you were referring to Denis Manturov.
Denis Pogodin: Yes, that is correct.
Vladimir Putin: Yes, he is an experienced person. But your principal mentor is your father. If he had not once given you that book to read – even if you may not remember every detail today – it was ultimately his ideas, his outlook, and the values he instilled in you from childhood that set you on this path, you would not probably have had Mr Manturov as your mentor. So first and foremost, my gratitude goes to your father, your key mentor, for raising a son like you. And I am sure that you, in turn, will do everything possible, and clearly are already doing, to pass those same values on to your own children.
I wish you every success.
Denis Pogodin: Thank you.
Denis Didenko: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief, I wish you good health!
I am Chief Advisor at the Presidential Directorate for Monitoring and Analysis of Social Processes, and Deputy Commander for Military-Political Affairs of a Special Forces unit of the Airborne Forces in the special military operation zone, Guards Major Denis Didenko.
“The Fatherland is the highest value for a Russian officer. Russia comes first; everything else is temporary.” These words from the Russian officer’s code of honour, written by Valentin Kulchitsky, a hero of the Russo-Japanese War and the Patriotic War of 1812, have always served as a guiding principle for me. They remain just as relevant today in my service within the Presidential Executive Office.
The Presidential Executive Office is not some comfortable sinecure, as it is sometimes believed. It is the demanding and meticulous work of a large team of highly qualified professionals whose decisions have a direct impact on the lives of millions of our citizens.
Today, a war is being waged against our country on three fronts. The first, most visible and understandable to everyone here, is the line of combat contact. The second is the economic front. And the third – intangible, invisible, and therefore perhaps the most difficult – is the information front. Its front line is not somewhere far away, but in our border regions, where this pressure and this pain are felt particularly sharply.
When part of the Kursk Region came under enemy occupation, I was assigned from the Presidential Executive Office to work in the region. That experience demonstrated to me that achieving results depends above all on the coordinated efforts of all branches of government and on the personal responsibility of local officials.
After our event, I will go to the Belgorod Region. My comrade from the second cohort of the Time of Heroes programme, Alexander Shuvayev, has been appointed acting head of the administration there. Alexander and I are both airborne officers, and everyone is familiar with the unique spirit of airborne brotherhood. I am confident that, thanks to the knowledge gained through the Time of Heroes programme and the support we provide one another, the world will come to know a new kind of bond – the brotherhood of the Time of Heroes.
Standing before you, Mr President, I cannot help but express my sincere gratitude. Two years ago, I approached you with a request to consider awarding my fallen comrade-in-arms, Magomed Isbakiyev, the title of Hero of the Russian Federation. Thanks to your decision, that recognition was ultimately bestowed. For this, I am deeply grateful.
Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,
Guards Major Didenko. This is an honour.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you for honouring the memory of your comrade-in-arms and for seeing this matter through to the end, to conferring the title of a Hero on him. This is important not only for him, but for all of us; and especially for his loved ones, for everyone who knew him, and for those who want to know more about this.
Indeed, the Presidential Executive Office is not a sinecure. But much ultimately depends on the people. Any kind of work, any position, can become a sinecure. Thankfully, the Presidential Executive Office is not such a place, and I hope this is due, in part, to the efforts of people like you, to your hard work and dedication.
You are absolutely right in highlighting the importance of the information front. It has always been a crucial dimension, particularly during periods and on sites of armed conflicts. It is always vital. Why? Because the condition of both the armed forces and society depends on it – the society that forms the foundation of victory. Unity is the foundation of victory. This was true during the Great Patriotic War, both in 1812 and in 1941, and it remains true today.
I am confident that the enemy will not achieve the results it seeks precisely because we understand what we are doing, what we are fighting for, and against whom. People like you – those with practical experience, knowledge, and a deep understanding of ongoing processes – play an essential role in this effort. In my view, this is a pillar of success, and one of the clearest indicators that the Time of Heroes educational platform was created for a good reason.
Thank you, and I wish you every success. Please convey my best regards to your comrade-in-arms and to the newly appointed leader.
Is that all? Shall we wrap up?
You know, in conclusion, I would like to say the following: we have gathered here in the heart of Moscow, in the Kremlin, discussing serious and complex issues. But the greatest burden, of course, rests with those who are now on the frontlines. So let us do what we have done before: in their honour, in support of them, and loudly enough for them to hear us – on the count of three, let us give them a triple ‘Hurray!’
(A triple ‘Hurray!’.)
Vladimir Putin: Thank you – to you and to your comrades who are now at the front, whose success we firmly believe in. For Russia! Thank you. All the very best, every success, and good luck.