Anna Tsivileva: Our task is to help soldiers return to a full, peaceful life

The meeting was attended by Hero of Russia, member of the foundation’s supervisory board Alexey RomanovHero of Russia, member of the foundation’s supervisory board Vyacheslav Bocharovveteran of a special military operation, member of the Russian wheelchair fencing team Vladislav Shinkar.

Only numbers

Branches of the fund opened on June 1, 2023 in 89 regions of Russia. Over 6 months of work, employees received 422 thousand requests from special operation veterans and families of fallen soldiers. More than 334 thousand issues have already been resolved.

More than 2,330 social coordinators work in branches throughout the country. All of them underwent special training. Often, veterans and family members of fallen soldiers who turn to the fund for help become members of the team. Thus, today the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation employs 164 combat veterans and 63 family members of deceased SVO participants. A social coordinator is assigned to everyone who applies for help to a branch of the fund and accompanies the applicant in resolving all issues. Most often, people come to the fund with requests related to social support, monetary payments related to participation in the SVO, obtaining a combat veteran’s certificate, and legal assistance.

“It should be noted that the fund is a comprehensive tool for targeted assistance in a “single window” format. It is important for us to help and support our heroes and their family members. In their work, the foundation’s employees are guided by the principles of fairness, care, and respect. For us there are no other people’s problems, there is a common path to Victory”. Anna Tsivileva.

Health care

One of the key areas of the foundation’s activities is providing targeted medical care. Over six months, more than 15 thousand veterans of the Northern Military District received it. Such results are the result of serious systematic work. For example, the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation has established cooperation with relevant ministries and departments, leading medical and scientific centers. Today, with the participation of the Russian Ministry of Health, preventive examinations are carried out for veterans who are returning home. This is done so that the heroes can receive all the necessary medical care. About a hundred soldiers with various brain injuries are undergoing rehabilitation at the Federal Scientific and Clinical Center for Reanimatology and Rehabilitation. In addition, heroes with serious injuries are being recuperated at the CITO consultative and rehabilitation center of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade. Here they not only make the prosthesis, but also teach how to use it.

“We adhere to the position that rehabilitation must be comprehensive: it is not enough to simply provide a prosthesis, you need to teach how to use it. In other words, it is important not only the quality of the product itself, but also the skills to use it. Our task is to help fighters return to a full life, regardless of what region they live in.”. Anna Tsivileva.

Attention and care

Psychological and psychotherapeutic assistance to veterans of the Northern Military District is a task to which the participants of the press conference paid special attention. Post-traumatic syndrome, which affects almost all fighters returning to civilian life, is no secret to anyone. This requires a special approach, special help. And the fund is ready to help heroes!

“It is important that the characters feel that they are surrounded by attention and care. Our task is to ensure that special operations veterans can receive all the necessary help, including socialization through sports. Psychologists confirm that this helps fighters adapt very well. That is why we hold the Defenders of the Fatherland Cup in every federal district of the country. It’s nice to see the success our heroes achieve in the sports field.”. Hero of Russia, member of the foundation’s supervisory board Alexey Romanov.

You can come to the fund’s branch with any question – from obtaining a combat veteran’s certificate to calculating payments. The branches provided legal assistance to more than 33 thousand people. Thanks to the fact that the foundation united the efforts of departments and organizations and initiated the creation of a special commission under the Russian Ministry of Defense, soldiers of private military companies began to receive the status of combat veterans.

More than 19 thousand heroes have already received combat veteran certificates through the efforts of the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation.

Social adaptation

Employment of veterans is another important issue that the fund’s employees are addressing jointly with employment centers in the regions of Russia. Since June 1, 2023, more than 6 thousand people have received free training and retraining in the most popular specialties.

“The Foundation is actively involved in the work of involving Northern Military District veterans in public activities. Currently, about a thousand NGOs count special operations veterans in their ranks. First of all, this is good for the fighters themselves who returned home: they are not withdrawn, but feel needed, understand that they are benefiting their Motherland. In addition, to form the consciousness of the younger generation, we need examples of real people. And this is how special operation heroes become.”. Hero of Russia, member of the foundation’s supervisory board Vyacheslav Bocharov.

The Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation is actively involved in involving veterans in physical education and sports. Working closely with the Paralympic movement, it organizes cultural events and holds meetings on the patriotic education of youth with the participation of heroes. A striking example of this is the Defenders of the Fatherland Cup, which took place from November 21 to 23 in Ufa, which became a real sports festival for participants and guests.

“The main thing is not to be disabled at heart, and everything else can be overcome. Moreover, there is the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation, which will always help and take care of special operation veterans. For me personally, the fund was a great discovery; I was very surprised at how much work was being done. I thought that they only help with paperwork here, but it turned out that a huge number of necessary events are being held.”. Veteran of a special military operation, member of the Russian wheelchair fencing team Vladislav Shinkar.

The State Fund “Defenders of the Fatherland” was created by Decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin in April 2023. Its main goal is personal support for military veterans and family members of fallen soldiers. Defenders of the Fatherland receive assistance with medical and social rehabilitation, retraining and employment, provide legal support, adapt housing to the needs of the disabled, and provide long-term home care. The foundation also engages veterans in physical education and sports, the Paralympic movement, organizes cultural events, and holds meetings on the patriotic education of youth with the participation of defenders of the Fatherland.

Photo: Press service of the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation