Putin met with Pasechnik and Balitsky

Russian President Vladimir Putin held meetings in the Kremlin with Acting Head of the LPR Leonid Pasechnik and Acting Head of the Zaporozhye Region Yevgeny Balitsky. This was reported by the Kremlin press service on the night of August 23.

During the meeting Pasechnik notedthat the situation in the region “continues to remain tense”, but at the same time stable, without sharp aggravations. The acting head of the LPR also reported on the restoration of infrastructure and economy in the LPR and spoke about the preparations for the September elections. According to him, the main tasks of the LPR authorities are to provide an opportunity to vote for all residents of the region and to ensure maximum security during the elections.

“All the tasks that you mentioned, they cannot be solved without solving the main problem – this is security. <...> On the basis of resolving security issues, of course, we need to think about restoring the economy and the social sphere,” Putin said after listening to Pasechnik’s report.

In particular, the president called for the implementation of the recovery growth of industry and then “on this basis to move on.”

Balitsky declaredthat the Zaporozhye region should become an outpost of Russia in the south, since the region has “very favorable geopolitical and logistical significance.” In response, Putin noted that the region has “very great potential.” According to Balitsky, the region’s authorities have created 20 state-owned companies to ensure “the most efficient management of the economy.” He added that after the end of the special operation, it is planned to carry out “denationalization of the economy.”

At the meeting, Putin and Balitsky also discussed issues of energy, gasification, preparing schools in the region for September 1, holding elections and the work of the land route that runs around the Sea of ​​Azov through the territory of the Zaporozhye region. In conclusion, Putin said that the situation in the economy and social sphere of the region is stabilizing.

The Russian special operation in Ukraine began on February 24, 2022. During the hostilities, Russian troops took full control of the LPR, as well as most of the DPR, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions. On September 30, 2022, following the results of referendums, these regions became part of Russia. Since October 19, by decree of the President of the Russian Federation, martial law has been introduced in the DPR, LPR, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions.