Meeting with Ulyanovsk Region Governor Alexei Russkikh

Alexei Russkikh Russkikh AlexeiGovernor of the Ulyanovsk Region said that the implementation of national projects and federal programmes has significantly helped resolve the region's long-standing issues, improved residents' quality of life, and strengthened its economic and industrial potential.

The Governor began his report by highlighting the support measures for participants of the special military operation being implemented in the region. A total of 45 support initiatives have been developed and are continually being improved. Currently, 7,261 families are receiving assistance from social welfare specialists. A regional branch of the Defenders of the Fatherland State Foundation is actively operating. The Ulyanovsk Region was the first in the country to open a rehabilitation centre equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, capable of serving over 1,000 people annually. Work is also underway to establish a second centre, which will accommodate up to 2,000 people per year.

Extensive efforts are underway in the region to collect humanitarian aid and deliver vehicles, motorcycles, quadcopters, and other essential supplies to the special military operation zone. A total of 80,000 volunteers have registered. The Ulyanovsk Region is actively involved in the reconstruction of the new regions, including the cities of Mariupol, Gorlovka, Severodonetsk, and Lisichansk. To date, six schools and kindergartens, 59 heating facilities, around 10 kilometres of heating mains, 126 apartment buildings, and 14 other facilities, including the prosecutor's office, a hospital, the Emergencies Ministry, and the Federal Penitentiary Service buildings, have been restored.

Addressing socio-economic development, Alexei Russkikh reported that the Ulyanovsk Region's industrial production index reached 116 percent by the end of 2024, ranking the region among the top five in the country.

The region is also surpassing the national average in wage growth. Agreements have been signed with 3,000 industrial enterprises, mandating an annual wage increase of at least 15 percent to counter inflation and enhance residents' quality of life.

In 2024, fixed capital investment in the region reached 142 billion rubles. Several industrial parks and a port special economic zone are now operational. Although foreign investors left the region due to sanctions, enterprises found new owners, and nearly all plants were back in operation within a year. Achieving this required substantial resources and effort, and wages continued to be paid even when the plants were idle.

Significant work is also being carried out to reduce poverty, which has declined from 15 percent to 9.3 percent over the past five years. This progress has been supported in part by social contracts, with 11,500 agreements signed in the region, primarily benefiting agricultural production.

To be continued.