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Meeting with Zaporozhye Region Governor Yevgeny Balitsky

Vladimir Putin held a working meeting with Governor of the Zaporozhye Region Yevgeny Balitsky.

September 24, 2025
14:10
The Kremlin, Moscow

Yevgeny Balitsky began his report with social issues. He briefed the President on the construction of a regional children's hospital with 240 beds and the purchase of equipment for it. The Governor mentioned a serious shortage of medical personnel in the region and measures to address this issue. For example, a new house with 64 apartments has been turned over to doctors. By agreement with Healthcare Minister Mikhail Murashko, doctors will work at the hospital on a rotational basis to provide all the health services stipulated in the Russian legislation. Under the Country Doctor programme, 52 specialists moved to the region last year and 64 doctors this year.

Yevgeny Balitsky stated that the opponent, who is unable to win on the battlefield, is attacking infrastructure facilities, and there are members of hospital and ambulance personnel among the victims. The necessary measures taken to prevent this include the use of electronic warfare systems, the staff of the commandant's office, the Armed Forces and the regional administration supported by all federal agencies. The regional government has purchased 22 armoured vehicles for use as ambulances. The Governor added that about 150,000 people live in cities near the contact line.

He also stated that the region was taking part in all the 11 national projects. In particular, two renovated schools and two large kindergartens opened on September 1. The Governor also shared positive information with the President: the number of students in the region has increased from 50,000 in 2023 to 54,000 in 2024 and 55,139 in 2025. This shows that people are returning to the region.

Yevgeny Balitsky also spoke about Melitopol State University, which has been overhauled and now has over 20,000 students. This year, 7,000 first-year students enrolled at the university; the competition was 3.8 people per place.

He also reported on the situation in agriculture. The current area of farmland in the Zaporozhye Region is 1.7 million hectares. The region has already harvested 1.7 million tonnes of winter crops, 4 percent down from last year due to a serious drought this summer.

The Governor informed the President about the problem of pensioners, which developed because many of those who have fled to Ukraine left their elderly family members behind. There are 5,000 such pensioners who need additional assistance. The government is working on this issue. Overall, 207,000 people in the Zaporozhye Region receive pensions. A large house that is being built for elderly people will be completed in 2027.

As for assistance to participants in the special military operation and their families, the Governor reported on the opening of a regional support centre, adding that everything possible is being done so that no participant in the special military operation feels abandoned.

According to Yevgeny Balitsky, the Zaporozhye Region looks like a giant construction site. Over 1,000 kilometres of roads have been built, more than ever before. That part of Ukraine was not developed at all, the Governor said. Great hopes are pinned on the construction of the road along the coast of the Sea of Azov. The four-lane Tavrida motorway, which is under construction, will boost the region's development. Vladimir Putin confirmed that it would be a good modern road.

Yevgeny Balitsky reported on the construction of an all-season resort on the Sea of Azov under the Five Seas and Lake Baikal federal project. Project documentation is being prepared to ensure a comprehensive development of this cluster, which will become a development driver of the Zaporozhye Region.