From shelling to sunset – Newspaper Kommersant No. 19 (7464) dated 02/02/2023

On February 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting on the restoration of residential infrastructure destroyed in the border areas and as a result of emergencies. Special Correspondent “Kommersant” Andrey Kolesnikov draws attention to the fact that the border areas are becoming more and more.

A few days ago, Vladimir Putin met with Governor of the Belgorod Region Vyacheslav Gladkov. It was, in my opinion, an unprecedented meeting. The head of the deep Russian territory told in detail how the Belgorod region lives in the conditions of the SVO (special military operation.— “b”). This, judging by his meticulous, downright painstaking story, is precisely the warring territory. She is being fired on, bombs are falling on her; the houses standing on it are destroyed; need to evacuate…

The everyday story of Vyacheslav Gladkov about the horrors of war and the death of people on a land that no one, and above all its inhabitants, has never considered even problematic, made a strong impression.

At such working meetings, the president is told in the same calm tone about the elimination of floods, for example, or, in extreme cases, about the danger of fires.

And it was in this calmness that it was unbelievable. That everyone is used to. And what is happening is taken for granted. And even Vyacheslav Gladkov, who, look at him, was created, it seems, exclusively for peaceful life.

On this day, the heads of several border regions, as well as those where there were just floods and fires (we decided to combine them, according to the level of danger and the degree of elimination of consequences) were on video call at once.

In the new territories, Vladimir Putin said, “mortgages at a reduced rate of 2%” are being launched.

– The introduction of preferential mortgages should serve the development of construction in new and, in fact, in our old, historical territories (it’s not a sin to recall this even at a production meeting.— A.K.), to increase the volume of housing commissioning here and, in general, to increase the pace of recovery of cities and towns.

Mortgage for the border regions, where a special provision has been introduced, apparently, is not provided.

Vladimir Putin also remembered Vyacheslav Gladkov:

— Last week, if you noticed (yes, you did.— A.K.), I had a meeting with the governor of the Belgorod region, and he reported in detail on the situation in his region, what kind of assistance is provided to people through the Belgorod region. As a result of the meeting, specific instructions were given on additional measures in this regard, as well as on a whole range of other areas, and, of course, I ask you to ensure the implementation of everything that is planned.

And maybe that’s the way it should be. This is the new reality, after all. And let’s be realistic. And so it will be with each (region). If anything, and with the newcomer. They will help, allocate, give instructions and provide.

“Of course,” the president added, “the priority task is to eliminate the very possibility of shelling, but this is the business of the military department.

That is, it will have to wait.

“I would like to draw the attention of my colleagues in the government and in the field: the problems for citizens are very acute, it is necessary to repair or compensate for the loss of houses, apartments, other property, to return energy, heat, water supply facilities and so on to normal operation. I would like to stress, the president declared, that the solution of these problems must not stall, get stuck in bureaucratic procedures.

Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin habitually demonstrated his fighting qualities.

“In connection with the shelling by Ukraine, there are risks of damage to houses and social and cultural facilities of citizens living near the border areas,” he stated.

Moreover, they are actively damaged.

“Currently, in the Belgorod, Kursk, Bryansk regions, we are faced with a situation where the resettlement of residents is required due to a direct threat to their lives,” continued Marat Khusnullin. “Therefore, the existing support mechanisms for ordinary emergencies that we used are not always possible use in these areas.

In the Belgorod region, as it turned out, already 3.7 thousand people were resettled who did not expect such a person.

– At the same time, the area of ​​resettled houses is 108 thousand square meters, – Marat Khusnullin added. – Sites have been prepared, places have been prepared where people can move, all this is provided with the necessary engineering and transport infrastructure. On your instructions, Vladimir Vladimirovich, we have already prepared a draft administrative document for today – if you approve today’s approaches, we can literally accept and allocate money tomorrow (Is it weak today? – A.K.)! We have all the approvals of the administration, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Construction.

They gave Vyacheslav Gladkov a speech. He was positive:

– Literally all the questions after our conversation with you … We phoned, all the agreements were made … We completed monitoring, a technical inventory of all passports, all families, all residential buildings that were damaged … And how much we need to build before the end of the year. Ready for the task.

There was a strong impression that no more destruction was planned on the territory of the Belgorod region before the end of the year.

Roman Starovoit, governor of the Kursk region, said that “since the beginning of the special military operation, we have suffered 23 apartment buildings, 379 private houses, and two apartment buildings and four private houses are no longer recognized for living … Seven social infrastructure facilities have been damaged … If there is decided to help, we would be extremely grateful … “.

How else? We don’t leave ours. And in the Kursk region, and in any other. Yes, even in Moscow. Yes, even in Moscow itself. There is confidence that we will restore, if anything, everything and as soon as possible.

And we must pay tribute to Roman Starovoit. He, as a zealous owner of the region, unexpectedly went further:

– On September 18, a hurricane passed in the Kursk region. An atypical phenomenon!.. As a result of which 252 individual residential buildings, 15 apartment buildings and three social facilities were damaged … The current damage we have is 355 million rubles. But according to the formula, we cannot qualify for federal support, because the amount does not exceed half a percent of the budget revenue. And through the Ministry of Construction, the costs are compensated only for the housing stock. That is, 211 million rubles were not taken into account. damage to three social facilities! If a special decision is made, we will be extremely grateful on this issue as well.

Roman Starovoit, as if promisingly, announced his indispensable gratitude – within reason, of course.

Meanwhile, the Kursk region can, no doubt, be proud of its leader: in the current circumstances, he uses all the opportunities provided by the time and the situation. At first, it seemed that it was necessary to help people who lost their homes: but no, they are compensated for everything through the Ministry of Construction. Then it turned out that we are talking only about social facilities swept away by the hurricane, which the region should restore at its own expense. Roman Starovoit simply understood that at such a meeting he, as the head of such a region, could ask for such a thing. And without any irony – bravo, Roman Starovoit!

Meanwhile, the idea of ​​the governor did not arouse enthusiasm among the president. He obviously thought that the hurricane, most likely, passed not only through the Kursk region; and in general it is not known where this hurricane calmed down and whether it calmed down at all.

And Mr. Putin suggested that the governor further study the issue together with the leadership of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Ministry of Finance. And this in this case is a path, one must think, to nowhere. That is, the president could have said more simply: “Forget it.”

Alexander Bogomaz, the head of the Bryansk region, said that “since the beginning of the operation, the Bryansk region has been shelled 272 times … In total, 22 people were injured during this time. Four people died… 235 private houses and households were destroyed…”.

“The situation today is like this …” Alexander Bogomaz sighed loudly and heavily. “We are doing everything we can from the regional budget …

— But you are in contact with the Ministry of Construction? the president gave him cause for optimism.

– Of course! Alexander Bogomaz assured him and repeated this word just in case exactly three more times: “Of course! Of course! Of course! We do everything! And as for security and the construction of fortifications, everything has already been built!

It was already too much. Alexander Bogomaz could leave the last phrase for a more intimate conversation with the president. After all, it is unlikely that a public story about the successful construction of fortifications in the heart of Russia will lower the level of anxiety of the rest of the body of the country.

– And in industry and agriculture have received growth! Alexander Bogomaz corrected himself, however.

The heads of the warring regions, one by one, were convinced that they would be helped. The vast majority are generally out of range of the enemy.

So, the head of the Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, reported that, “fortunately, there were no households affected by the shelling.” And social facilities too.

But the Crimean bridge does not count.

It’s generally not immediately tell whose.

Although in reality it was a blow, of course, to the federal decision-making center.

That is, personally according to Vladimir Putin.

Andrey Kolesnikov