Russian Floods, Gasification & Angara Discussed at 17 April Government Meeting

I noted in my last article some info about the very disastrous flooding that’s ongoing in Russia’s midsection—the transitional area where Europe becomes Asia at the Urals. The cause of this year’s flooding isn’t really discussed, but what we get to learn is how Russia goes about dealing with a natural disaster of this magnitude which readers in North America will want to compare to their government’s reaction and level of concern, particularly Katrina and the PG&E fires in California. The Kremlin provides this description of the meeting:

At the beginning of the meeting, a number of current issues were discussed. Head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations Alexander Kurenkov, Governor of the Orenburg Region Denis Pasler, Governor of the Kurgan Region Vadim Shumkov and Governor of the Tyumen region reported to the President about the situation with floods in the regions and elimination of their consequences Alexander Moor. Minister of Construction and Housing and Communal Services Irek Fayzullin informed about the beginning of work on damage assessment, restoration of housing and infrastructure.

Minister of Health Mikhail Murashko presented a report on the development of the system of training medical workers in the country. The head of the department also commented on the situation and the work of medical services in the regions affected by floods.

Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak reported on the implementation of the social gasification program. Head of Roscosmos Yuri , spoke about the successful launch of the Angara-A5 heavy rocket from the Vostochny cosmodrome on April 11 and future plans for the use of launch vehicles of this class.

Maksut Shadaev, Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media and Chairman of the Central Bank Elvira Nabiullina, made presentations on the main topic of the discussion.

What’s cut out of the transcript and video is the last presentations which I was hoping would shed some light on the degree of advancement made toward the new international payment clearing institution. Perhaps it was deemed the presentations gave away too much, which IMO would be a good sign. But there’s much to learn from what’s presented:

Vladimir Putin: Let's start with the floods. The first report was delivered by Alexander Kurenkov. You reported to me yesterday, and we talk almost every day. Please tell us what the situation looks like today.

Alexey Kurenkov: Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, Dear colleagues!

In a number of subjects of the Russian Federation, there is an unfavorable situation associated with the passage of spring floods. Today, the situation in the Orenburg, Kurgan and Tyumen regions requires special attention.

In the Orenburg region, with a certain degree of confidence, we can say that the flood wave passed through the cities of Orsk and Orenburg. Discharges from the Iriklinsky reservoir have become several times less than the values that were in late March and early April. Although the water level in the cities I mentioned is above dangerous levels, we are seeing a steady decline.

The flood wave moves down the Ural River and approaches the village of Ilek on the border with Kazakhstan. The water level here has already reached the level of a dangerous phenomenon. A complex of preventive measures was carried out in advance by the territorial subsystem of the RSCHS, coastal defenses were strengthened, and water-filling dams were deployed in some areas.

To date, more than 15 thousand residential buildings, almost 23 thousand household plots and 26 low-water bridges remain flooded in 76 settlements and 45 SNTS in the Orenburg Region. There are 1,031 people in 35 temporary accommodation centers, including 203 children. Medical workers, psychologists, employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Rosgvardiya are on duty at all facilities. People receive hot meals, legal aid, and comprehensive support.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia, together with the regional authorities, organized work to eliminate the consequences of an emergency situation and provide assistance to the affected population. Water is pumped out, garbage is removed, and the territory is decontaminated. Additional pumping groups and a reserve of heat guns are being formed to dry houses.

Work has been organized on the collection, delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid. Speaking about this, first of all, we should thank all concerned people, as well as organizations and even entire regions of the Russian Federation, who did not stand aside and help those who are in trouble in difficult times. Food, bottled water, clothing and basic necessities are delivered in an organized manner to the emergency zone and distributed to the affected population. We are greatly assisted in this work by volunteers and citizens, who also deserve the warmest words of gratitude.

It should be noted that not all people agreed to move to temporary accommodation points. Some of them decided to live in cars, tents, and their flooded homes, which are dispersed throughout the emergency zone, despite the fact that we have the opportunity to place them in more decent conditions at any time.

Special attention is paid to information work with the population. People need to be informed about payments and other ways of support that they can receive, how to restore documents, receive targeted humanitarian aid, vaccinations, and many other issues.

This information is distributed through mass media, the Internet, leaflets and memos. There is a hotline phone, yard rounds and organized meetings with the population are made.

EMERCOM of Russia has deployed mobile information and notification complexes to the region. The Government of the Orenburg Region has organized work on payments of material assistance to the affected population in the emergency zone. 30 thousand people have already received financial assistance.

As the streets are cleared of water, special commissions begin to assess the damage. The schedule and areas of their work are updated daily, posted on official resources, and published in social networks.

I have already reported on this, but I think it is important to note once again that most of the applications for payments were submitted through the Gosuslugi portal. This mechanism significantly simplifies the entire process of providing assistance to citizens, reducing the time for receiving money to the applicant's account. This result was achieved primarily due to the decisions taken in advance on the digitalization of this process.

Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, on April 9 and 15, meetings of the government commission were held in the city of Orsk, where additional steps were developed to eliminate the consequences of the emergency situation in the Orenburg Region and measures to provide assistance to the affected population. Also, the subjects of the Russian Federation were instructed to carry out additional preventive measures.

As for the Kurgan region, here the flood wave came directly to the city of Kurgan. In the coming days, we expect the maximum water level, which is predicted to reach 10 meters, which is a historical maximum. In the Kurgan region, the number of houses and economic facilities affected by floods is significantly lower.

To date, more than 600 residential buildings and two thousand country houses, more than 3,500 household plots, five low-water [bridges] and nine sections of highways remain flooded in 25 localities. The Government of the Kurgan region has organized work on payments of material assistance to the affected population in the emergency zone.

The situation with water discharges from reservoirs, which affect the formation of floods in the Kurgan region, is similar to the picture in the Orenburg region. Now their values are several times lower than those recorded in late March and early April. However, in case of simultaneous discharge of water, the situation may worsen.

With this in mind, an additional group of forces and means of the Russian Emergencies Ministry has been deployed to the Kurgan region for preventive purposes. Also, almost 14 thousand people were evacuated in advance, including almost two thousand children. For this purpose, 20 temporary accommodation points with a capacity of more than five thousand seats have been deployed.

The Government of the Kurgan region has organized preventive measures aimed at protecting settlements.

As for the Tyumen Region, to date, 12 low-water bridges and one section of the highway remain flooded in eight municipalities. However, the forecast for this subject is unfavorable. If the current values of discharges from reservoirs in Kazakhstan are maintained, the worst-case scenario of the situation is possible.

Water in the Ishim and Tobol rivers can rapidly rise to the level of dangerous phenomena. It is predicted that the territory of residential buildings of the private sector will be flooded in 94 localities with a population of more than 31 thousand people. 77 temporary accommodation centers with a total capacity of more than 11 thousand people have been deployed in areas at risk of flooding. 402 points with a total capacity of more than 85 thousand people are planned for the entire territory of the Tyumen Region.

Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, the flood situation on the territory of the Russian Federation is under special control. We continue to work.

I finished my report.

Vladimir Putin: Good.

Irek Envarovich, I asked you to assess the situation on the spot related to future restoration work and damage assessment.

You are welcome.

Igor Fayzullin: Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, Dear colleagues!

Indeed, as I reported the day before yesterday, Mr Putin, the situation in cooperation with the Ministry of Emergency Situations and regional authorities in the framework of joint work [is as follows]. As for the Orenburg region: Today, a number of houses and socio-cultural sites have already been released from water, and as a result, we have jointly launched a survey where the water has drained, for the restoration of housing and life-supporting structures.

Today, in 20 localities of the Orenburg Region, the work of 135 housing and communal services, 11 educational facilities, 10 health facilities, four sports facilities and six cultural facilities has been suspended.

In the Orenburg Region, 35 commissions have been created, which have already promptly examined more than 1,200 houses for restoration, loss, and loss, including objects of dacha associations.

As soon as we are free of water, we will strengthen working groups in order to quickly carry out the necessary survey work. Electricity is already being connected. Network gas was supplied to 13 thousand objects and households. There is a lot of work in this area: a lot of equipment – even water or gas meters-has been disrupted, so joint work with local authorities is organized.

We are preparing for this work in the Kurgan region. Together with the governor, a commission is being prepared, which will promptly [start working] on the objects. We are preparing to survey more than 669 residential buildings, 2,376 suburban infrastructure facilities, bridges, and roads. We will also work on this part, including future protection measures.

By Ishim. We are also in close cooperation with the Governor, with local authorities, with the Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative for the Ural Federal District Yakushev Vladimir Vladimirovich we are working together.

Today I am in Tomsk. In the morning, we drove through flooded areas, 36 houses. Of course, the situation here is not as tense as in the regions described above, but 18 houses remain flooded today. There are also housing infrastructure facilities. 115 country houses are flooded, six highways, that is, the work is also being evaluated, although here we have only declared a municipal emergency. Also, everything is under control, so all measures in Tomsk are adequately taken, the Ministry of Emergency Situations has clearly worked on evacuation.

Still, it is difficult – even in the general situation when we see that water is flowing, it is difficult for people to evacuate. Alexander Vyacheslavovich [Kurenkov] also noticed this. Constant work of both the police and the Ministry of Emergency Situations in this part with the authorities is organized.

Vladimir Vladimirovich, everything is under control. I will continue to work as we agreed, so I will report as we move forward and get rid of the water.

“thanks.

Vladimir Putin: According to the established procedure, it is necessary to organize work on damage assessment in time, so that there are no pauses. The water goes out – and immediately the commission should work with the participation of your specialists.

Igor Fayzullin: Yes, Mr President.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you.

Let's go through the regions. Let's start with Orenburg. Denis Vladimirovich, please.

Dmitry Pasler: Mr President, good afternoon!

Orenburg residents, first of all, thank you for your support, for the attention of the Government, the Ministry of Emergency Situations and all residents of our country. We are in constant contact in all areas within the framework of the work of the government commission.

Flood processes, as we have already said, have shifted downstream, to the Yeletsky district, where we have carried out preparatory work.

Today we record a stable situation with a decrease in the level in the largest cities of the region – Orenburg and Orsk. For 10 days, our first priority was, of course, to ensure the safety, readiness of the air defense system, to carry out evacuation and, of course, to take all measures for life and provide support to residents. Today we continue this work.

As of April 17, it has already been said, 30 thousand people have already received payments not only priority, but also in connection with the loss of property. A decision was made to pay almost 34 thousand more residents. In the territories that are exempt from flooding, there are commissions for assessing property damage and assessing the suitability of housing for further residence. House assessment commissions have already conducted surveys of more than 1,200 homes. Now the main body of work is concentrated in Orsk, where the water recedes from residential buildings.

Every day, based on the data of the copter flyby, we make a map of the territories released from water and build a comprehensive schedule for the work of commissions. These are damage assessment commissions, cleaning and disinfection teams, and of course resource-supplying organizations. The schedule is updated on the official website.

We have connected the enterprises of the eastern Orenburg region to the cleaning, formed about 100 autonomous teams with a total of 500 people, equipped with machinery and equipment. For disinfection, there are all dezsredstva and specialized machines. We process both streets and residential buildings, as well as social infrastructure objects. We hold events together with Rospotrebnadzor. We also issue medical supplies to residents for further processing inside their homes and yards. Disinfection works have already been carried out on an area of more than 10 thousand square kilometers.

Power engineers, gas companies, and water utilities connect the residential sector as quickly as possible. Electricity supply has already been restored to almost 34 thousand residents, gas has returned to more than 13 thousand residents. Teams work around the clock.

There are 35 water intake wells in Orsk. Out of 73 [wells], the supply to the city is reduced in terms of parameters, but on a daily basis, when water leaves, we change the deep pumps, respectively, and try to connect water to homes as quickly as possible.

Already today, we have started repairing the road infrastructure and tram tracks that were damaged.

After these priority works, we will start restoring housing.

We are already developing projects of standard solutions for building new neighborhoods. We will offer residents both the opportunity to buy ready-made housing and build a house on their own.

We are working with the land. On Friday, we will adopt a corresponding regional law that allows us to provide land to people who have lost their homes as a result of an emergency, as a matter of priority, free of charge and without bidding.

Vladimir Vladimirovich, you know that the region is industrial, and we produce a large volume of construction materials. We have already formed appropriate reserves. The issue of prices is under control. This week I held a meeting with all resource suppliers working in the construction materials market, together with the Federal Antimonopoly Service and the Prosecutor's Office, in order to keep prices down. And such an agreement has been reached.

A large healthcare block is being implemented. We are vaccinating residents, more than 33 thousand have already been vaccinated, including 11,796 children. With the assistance of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 120,000 doses have been allocated from the Government's reserve fund, and of course we are continuing this work.

Since April 15, all Orsk schoolchildren have started studying in full-time format. Students left without clothes and shoes due to an emergency receive certificates for children's clothing in the amount of seven thousand rubles.

Business is the same. We will finish making all the decisions this week. We have affected 1,726 self-employed and 1,070 small and medium-sized enterprises. We provide financial support in the direction of employment, subsidies for the resumption of business activities for the self-employed, SMEs with up to five employees, after five people-100, 250 and 500 [thousand rubles].

On Friday, we will adopt laws on tax benefits, a simplified taxation system, and the zeroing of transport, land, and property taxes for those caught in the flood zone. The preferential fund for working capital loans was also filled at one percent.

I meet with residents on a daily basis. We analyze all their questions. All resources are used for communication. A single information portal has been launched in the region, where all information on support measures for citizens and businesses is accumulated. We are currently conducting targeted information campaigns on the work of commissions, payment procedures, and other issues. A hotline is available.

In general, the flood situation and its processes are still as active as possible, but we are starting a complex of restoration works in all areas.

The report is over. Thank you for your attention.

Vladimir Putin: Good. “thanks.

Kurgan region. Vadim Mikhailovich, please.

Vladimir Shumkov: Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, Dear colleagues!

Since the April 11 report, the situation has changed as follows. At the moment, 25 settlements and 107 SNTS in six municipal districts, including the city of Kurgan, were flooded in the Tobol River basin. Total: 669 residential buildings, 2,376 country houses, five bridges and nine road sections. The most difficult situation today is developing in the Ketovsky municipal district and the city of Kurgan, where flood peaks occur.

The level of the Tobol River in Kurgan exceeded the "dangerous phenomenon" mark by eight centimeters and reached a depth of nine meters 27 centimeters. The water keeps coming in. Over the past day, the level has increased by more than one meter 60 centimeters. In villages in the Ketovsky municipal district, located upstream, the mark has already exceeded 11 meters 11 centimeters.

More than 14,300 citizens, including 1,833 children, were removed from the flood area preemptively and in fact. There are 20 health centers, which accommodate 730 people, of which 316 are children. All disabled and disabled people are placed in central district hospitals. Work on informing, notifying and evacuating citizens is carried out continuously and around the clock.

The work of the headquarters is conducted openly, with photo, video and text materials posted in the media and social networks with an actual analysis of the flood situation and a forecast of which SNTS or localities are at risk of being flooded or cut off. Current forecast data from quadrocopters and space survey analysis are given. We believe that people should know and understand what is happening in order to compare risks and help us move out of flooded areas.

In Kurgan, the most stressful point is now the work of the dam and the hydroelectric complex. As I told you earlier, the level of the dam, which was built in 1962 and repaired in 2012, was between eight and 10 meters.

During the last five days, work was carried out to increase the level to 11.5 meters or more over a length of 17 kilometers, of which three meters are soil and the laying of half a million bags of soil. Now the MOE forces are keeping watch for the dam around the clock, and 20 emergency technical teams are working under the dam in case of its breakthrough.

In addition, due to difficulties in the work of emergency rescue teams and the ambulance crew, the Rosavtodor department recommended limiting the transit of cargo transport along the Irtysh highway at the 260-278-kilometer marks in the Kurgan city border.

Financial assistance to citizens has been organized. As of today, 2,613 applications have been received from citizens, of which 1,960 were received through Gosuslugi . Of these applications, 1,146 have so far been received from territories that are not flooded. For all other projects, funding development is carried out within the regulatory time frame.

In localities where the water has already left, measures are being taken to rehabilitate houses, wells, wells, and dry houses. Teams were formed to organize and clean up territories from garbage and assist citizens with restoring order in their personal plots, and volunteers were involved.

Vladimir Vladimirovich, the Emergency Department and headquarters are working around the clock. All necessary decisions are made immediately. We constantly contact people through social networks, mass media, as well as directly, holding meetings of citizens. Deputies, public opinion leaders, and the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation are involved in proactive work with citizens. We will fight for our residents, for the city, for a normal life, using every opportunity for this.

At the end, if I may, three short sentences on the situation.

First, we ask you to limit the effect of the dacha amnesty and matkapital in relation to residential objects being built on the territories of SNTS and DNTs located in flooded territories.

Second, we ask our colleagues in the Government to create a calculation model for Roscosmos satellites using 3D modeling of the capacity of floodplains and channels of flood-prone rivers using the "length", "width" and "depth" marks, as well as the freezing and absorption coefficients, in order to obtain final data immediately on the volume of water that enters the territory of the Russian Federation. the territory of the region.

We also ask you to instruct the regions to prepare maps of potential flood zones for all major administrative centers and localities, indicating water level markers for the constant readiness of local and federal forces and means to work out evacuation and rescue measures in advance.

The report is finished. “thanks.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you for your suggestions.

Please, Alexander Viktorovich, Tyumen.

Alexander Moor: Good afternoon, Mr President, dear colleagues!

Along the Tobol River in the Tyumen region, according to the marks of hydro posts, the water is still not very high, literally two or three centimeters, and on some it even decreases. But we are certainly waiting for the wave that will come to us from the Kurgan region in the coming days.

The situation on the Ishim River is developing more dynamically. On Monday, at 14:00, we received a new forecast from the Federal Hydrometeorological Service, which revised the maximum forecast water levels upwards. Today, we expect approximately plus two meters to the historical highs that were in 2017.

For us, two meters is a lot, because the topography of the Tyumen region in the area of the Ishim River is quite flat, and every centimeter of height gives a large area of flooding. During these two days, we sent a large number of surveyors and "shot" all the heights in all localities. It turned out that the figures – the number of localities and houses that will fall into the flood zone – differ from the figures that I reported to you earlier. Therefore, the current figures are as follows: 101 localities will be flooded instead of 51, 6387 households instead of 1847, and about 17.5 thousand residents who live in these houses, instead of the 7300 I mentioned.

Today, water is actively arriving in the first municipality, which is located on the border with Kazakhstan, this is the Kazan district. The Ilyinka hydro station has grown 76 centimeters over the past day, and today it is already eight meters 90 centimeters, which is 55 centimeters higher than the historical maximum. The forecast value is 10 meters.

Considering that we had very little time to protect the main settlement – the village of Kazanskoe, based on the previous forecast, we raised the dam crest to nine meters 50 centimeters, but since the forecast is 50, we are actively working on bagging to raise the level to 11 meters. We'll finish this job tonight. The water is rising, the water has come to the body of the dam and is slowly rising.

People were evacuated from the flood zone. The last ones left are the most stubborn, but now the teams of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, police, and local government bodies are actively working there. We will evacuate all people from there and keep watch over this dam.

As Alexander Kurenkov said about these figures, we are increasing their number. In general, we will deploy more than 13 thousand places. If necessary, we will expand more.

In fact, people, of course, move more to their relatives. As of this morning, 797 people were evacuated from the flood zones, 466 went to visit relatives, only 75 went to the PVR. 95 people were evacuated to medical institutions and more than 150 people-to social protection institutions.

We are actively working with the population, [holding] meetings in the municipalities-Kazan, Ishim district and the city of Ishim-which will be the first to meet this wave, and active evacuation is already underway. We flood people with text messages. Cars are driving, local governments are actively working together with police officers and the Ministry of Emergency Situations. The goal is to make sure that we evacuate the maximum number of people from the area of potential flooding in the coming days and even hours.

With Rospotrebnadzor, we are monitoring the quality of drinking water, since the water rises quite high. We cooperate with our colleagues from federal agencies. We are waiting for big water.

“thanks.

Vladimir Putin: Alexander Viktorovich, I told you that it can be higher than usual, remember?

A. Moor: Yes, we were just preparing for it on your instructions – plus two meters. Therefore, on the one hand, this did not come as a surprise to us, because we assumed approximately this level for ourselves. Municipalities that are slightly downstream, especially where we have the city of Ishim – we are already raising dams plus two meters. From Kazakhstan to the Kazan region, which I described in such detail, there is very little time, the bill is on the clock. We will have time, we will try to stand as much as possible.

Vladimir Putin: All right.

You said that " we are taking people out, but only the most stubborn ones are left." Don't talk about people like that, don't.

Alexander Moore: Mr President, I'm sorry…

Vladimir Putin: Not funny. Listen to me, it's not funny. I understand that you are trying, everyone is tired, working, not getting enough sleep, and you are sincerely trying to help people. But why don't people go? They are afraid for their property, for their homes. It is necessary to believe that everything will be reliably provided.

Good. I would like to appeal to my colleagues from the regions. Is there something that you may have forgotten to say, but you think it's important, and what people are asking you, some of the most pressing issues?

Alexander Moor: Mr President, I'm sorry, but I also mentioned the R-402 federal highway, which I reported to you about earlier.

Vladimir Putin: I remember, yes, so what?

A. Moor: Alexander Kurenkov promptly allocated us a four-kilometer water filling dam from the reserve. On Monday, we already installed it, we installed it almost 800 meters. But since the forecast was higher, we have drained the water, it was curtailed, because the water will flow through it by a meter. The federal road is covered with soil, the first layer has already passed, the second will be finished on Friday. This self-levelling dam will be used to protect human settlements.

Vladimir Putin: That's right. Do you need any additional help? Maybe from the Government, from the Ministry of Construction?

Alexander Moore: Thank you, Mr President. Not yet. We have strengthened our forces and resources, and we still have enough of our own. If necessary, we will definitely ask for support.

Vladimir Putin: Good. Thank you very much.

I would like to thank all my colleagues from the regions. I can see that you are working hard, and I hope that this will continue until the issues related to the restoration of infrastructure and housing are resolved.

You know what, we'll definitely get back to that. Of course, we must keep this under control. Alexander Vyacheslavovich [Kurenkov] reports to me almost every day, almost every day. But a little later, when the water is drained, we will meet even more broadly-together with the heads of municipalities – and discuss issues related to the restoration of infrastructure and housing. There are some subtle issues there, and we will definitely come back to them later.

Mikhail Albertovich, my colleagues talked about the supervisory authorities and the work of medical services. How do you assess what is currently happening in the flood zone, from a medical point of view?

Mikhail Murashko: Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich,

To date, the most intense work, of course, was in the Orenburg region. I would like to thank all my colleagues, as indeed all medical events were organized on time. We had to evacuate a total of 21 facilities in 11 medical organizations of the healthcare system. Now, as Irek Envarovich [Fayzullin] has already said, we are restoring work, but for now the most important thing is to restore water supply, as surgical activities and ensuring all sanitary standards in medical organizations are key.

Today, 41 vaccination teams work directly in the Orenburg region. There are no difficulties in providing assistance. We also sent specialists – cardiologists and neurologists-additionally to Orsk at the request of our colleagues, in order to organize consultative assistance. Therefore, everything works normally. In particular, medical workers work at all PVRs.

For the Kurgan region: additional ambulance teams are also ready to deploy here. We have prepared all medical services to provide assistance, including in case of evacuation. Additionally, vaccination teams were trained. In total, today all vaccines are present on the territory of all subjects. There are no additional questions. We hold almost daily meetings with our counterparts in the regions. All work is organized.

In addition, we have set up a 24-hour "hotline" for psychological assistance 122. There are appeals, and we are working on everything normally.

“thanks.

Vladimir Putin: There are enough specialists there, right? So I understand?

Mikhail Murashko: Yes, there are enough specialists.

Since medical organizations in the Orenburg Region had to be evacuated, accordingly, they changed the routing of patients with emergency conditions, according to planned care, including maternity hospitals. We've been talking.

Vladimir Putin: Yes.

Mikhail Murashko: All this was taken into account. All assistance is provided in full. Therefore, I will say again, no additional resources are needed. We work out everything, plus we are engaged in damage assessment for medical organizations. In particular, there are preliminary calculations for the Orenburg Region. As the water recedes further, we finalize all calculations.

Kurgan is still ready, including for the protection of medical equipment. We calculated the possible risks for medical organizations: since we have expensive equipment, heavy ones, usually located on the first floors, we also carried out a set of measures to protect this expensive equipment from flooding. Therefore, we do everything in normal mode.

Vladimir Putin: All right. There are enough [specialists] there, and this is very good, thank God. But in general, the system is not enough. I know that over the past five years, the number of students in colleges and medical universities has increased by about 20 percent. What is the overall situation regarding training?

Mikhail Murashko: Training of medical specialists is the most effective way for us, Mr Putin, to replenish our personnel services. We see a positive balance in the system for providing doctors in 2023 – plus 10 thousand people. These are very good results.

Over the past five years, the target figures for first-year university admissions in budget-funded places have been increased by 21.5 percent. This is more than 34 thousand places in 2024. And the distribution of places: first of all, we send them to those universities that provide the regions with the most difficult personnel situation. Residency programs also increased the number of places by 19 percent – 19 thousand 700 places.

Moreover, we use an effective mechanism today – this is a targeted technique. We are probably the leaders in this area in all industries: 76 percent of the total number of budget places is precisely targeted admission. And for the specialties in the residency program, for the 54 most popular specialties-this is 100 percent of budget places.

Today, the mechanism is actively used in school pre-professional education – both pre-university and medical classes. I would like to say that the academic performance of children who have completed pre-university and specialized classes is higher, and, accordingly, the motivation for obtaining medical education is much higher.

I would also like to note that, of course, in the format of training specialists, we implemented the introduction of [amendments] to the legislation on your behalf. On April 1, the order of the Ministry of Health on the admission of second-year residents to work in medical institutions as doctors came into force. We expect that this year 10-12 thousand such specialists will work under the supervision of experienced doctors in the areas of their training. This is already a practice-oriented approach, which is generally implemented in the healthcare system.

Another important area: we mentioned that today a large number of sophisticated medical equipment is being developed, both implantable and active medical devices are being developed. Today, advanced engineering schools have been established and are functioning in medical universities subordinate to the Ministry of Health. There we train specialists who can also work in this area.

An important role is played by medical volunteering. Today, there are more than 280 volunteer groups in both universities and colleges. Over the past five years, volunteers have conducted more than 44,000 preventive and educational activities, including on the Dobro v Selo initiative. The total coverage of all volunteer programs was more than 36 million people.

We pay special attention to distance education. I must say that it was the online portal of continuing medical education that helped us out very much during the covid period, because the delivery of information through this resource was instantaneous. More than two million specialists completed almost simultaneous educational courses. Today, we also use it in our daily practice.

I would like to note that the role of middle management today is difficult to underestimate, it is simply a huge resource. In our healthcare system, almost 140,000 first-year students study in 410 educational institutions, of which almost 70 percent are state-funded places. I must say that the demand and desire to enter medical colleges in recent years is simply enormous. In most of them, the passing score for admission is more than 4.5 according to the five-point system.

We can see that the demand is high. And now, working with rectors of medical universities, we have decided to assign the supervision of rectors of higher educational institutions to medical colleges, including for the introduction of modern practices for training specialists.

Of course, the scientific direction has received a big boost today with the introduction of state programs – this is both "Priority 2030" and "Professionalism". All this has greatly strengthened universities. I would like to say that the result of this recognition of changes in medical education is the growth of foreign students in medical universities. Today, more than 75,000 students from almost 150 countries are studying in Russia. Of course, we see that interest is growing. We receive various development requests almost every week.

Here we have to adapt: different countries present their own peculiarities in the preparation and legal processing of documents. Therefore, we need to be more flexible and, of course, do not lose this direction, since the demand is really very high. Our medical facilities, where practical training takes place, today allow us to provide the highest level of training in all modern technologies that are used in medicine.

All instructions given in this direction are being fulfilled. We see that the priority for the development of medical education should remain in our work.

“thanks.

Vladimir Putin: Good. Thank you very much.

We have just discussed the restoration of housing and infrastructure in relation to the flood-affected regions, but in general, the work on infrastructure development continues, it is multi-faceted.

One of the new directions is the expansion of social gasification. Alexander Valentinovich, what's going on here?

Alexander Novak: Thank you very much.

Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, Colleagues!

Vladimir Vladimirovich, in order to fulfill your instructions during your Address to the Federal Assembly, where you gave instructions to extend social pre-gasification measures to garden associations located within the borders of gasified localities, the Government of the Russian Federation has organized appropriate work together with the regions, Gazprom, and regional gas supply operators. According to a preliminary estimate, which was carried out jointly, the number of such SNTS today is about 22 thousand in populated areas with gas supply, and the number of households that can potentially connect to gas in them is about one and a half million.

Vladimir Putin: What kind of households are these?

A. Novak: These are households, Mr Putin, which we believe belong to capital construction projects. That is, residential buildings where people spend a long time and practically live there. In order to develop a pre-gasification mechanism and criteria in accordance with your instructions, we also consulted with the regions and public associations of gardeners and summer residents, as well as with deputies and senators of the Federal Assembly. Based on the results of these consultations, we have prepared changes to the regulatory framework, which defines the following criteria for including, respectively, households and the possibility of submitting applications.

There are three main criteria: households must be intended for permanent residence; land plots and residential buildings must be registered, that is, the owners must have ownership of these objects; and the third criterion – in order to carry out work on laying networks on the territory of horticultural associations, a decision of the general meeting of SNT members will be required to provide land plots public use for placing gas pipeline infrastructure on the territory of the SNT.

To simplify and speed up the process, Rosreestr, together with the Ministry of Energy and the Union of Gardeners of Russia, prepared a draft model protocol of the general meeting of SNTS. It should include the necessary solutions for pre-gasification operations. And at the federal headquarters, which we hold on a regular basis, regional and municipal authorities, together with representatives of gas distribution organizations, were instructed to organize personal meetings with the chairmen and residents of garden associations. This should be done by municipalities within the framework of commissions: carry out the same work as was carried out during the start of work on social gasification for ordinary households.

It is also necessary to conduct surveys of citizens as soon as possible regarding the desire to connect to gas networks, that is, to conduct house-to-house detours. Conduct an information campaign and inform residents about the mandatory need and conditions for participation in social gasification of SNTS. Provide support, if necessary, in the registration of land plots and houses. Bring to the attention of those who have the right to pre-gasification of SNTS the standard draft decision that I mentioned. And, importantly, organize the work itself on holding general meetings of SNT members. This is also quite a large amount of work.

In addition, Mr Putin, we have instructed you to set deadlines and draw up plans and schedules, coordinate them with the unified gasification operator, so that members of horticultural associations know when their SNTS will be able to gasify.

In fact, this work has already begun. We expect the regions to complete the work and tasks that we have set for them today at the staff level by July 1.

Vladimir Vladimirovich, we ask for your support-to instruct the governors to complete the relevant work by July 1.

In order to fulfill your instructions, as I said, we have prepared regulatory changes in the legislation. Just yesterday, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed a decree on pre-gasification of rural settlements located within the borders of localities. It is published today and actually comes into force from the moment of publication. Thus, citizens living in SNTS, in gasified localities, from now on have the opportunity to submit applications to gas distribution organizations.

The corresponding work is also organized at the regional level. On your instructions, regional headquarters for social pre-gasification are headed by governors, explanatory work is being carried out and the situation on the ground is being monitored. I would like to note that Gazprom has mobilized more than 600 contractors, about 30 thousand people, and more than four thousand pieces of equipment to carry out pre-gasification of households in gasified localities and rural settlements, respectively.

This year, Gazprom allocated unprecedented money for pre – gasification- 270 billion rubles. In principle, there is funding. Contracts for general social gasification have already been signed for 260 billion rubles, of which 160 billion have already been financed.

Vladimir Vladimirovich, if I may, I will tell you just a few figures on social gasification, which has also been going on for the last two years on your instructions. To date, one million 650 thousand applications have been submitted and one million 200 thousand contracts have been concluded. Construction of gas pipeline infrastructure to the borders of land plots to households – 935 thousand, which is 78 percent of the concluded contracts. We are closely monitoring that this level is constantly increasing.

The technical capability is generally created for one million 200 thousand households. This means that not only the GRO works on applications, but also in general, if a gas pipeline is built along the street, it creates a technical opportunity to actually make a tie-in and quickly provide pre-gasification if a new application is available and received. Accordingly, gas has already been delivered directly to 554,000 households.

I would like to mention the leading regions: the Moscow Region, the Chechen Republic, the Lipetsk Region, the Volgograd Region, the Rostov Region, the Orenburg Region, and the Republic of Bashkortostan in terms of quantity and quality of work. For this year, we have plans to additionally de-gasify about 300 thousand households in accordance with the schedule plans.

To date, the possibility of submitting applications in various ways continues to operate. I would like to note that the most popular methods are the website of the unified gas supply operator. Citizens submit applications-mostly about 50 percent of the total applications-through the Gazprom website, through the offices of gas distribution organizations, as well as through the Gosuslugi website.

And a few words on social support measures. The regions have actively implemented support measures in order to be able to lay gas pipeline infrastructure and buy gas-using equipment inside the land plots. Over three years, the regions have allocated about 12.5 billion rubles, and about 30 categories of citizens are provided with support measures.

The Government also allocated 961 million rubles from the Reserve Fund last year to support the regions, mostly subsidized, these are 54 regions. This year, one billion rubles will also be allocated to support the regions in this direction.

Vladimir Vladimirovich, the work will continue, and we are implementing it on a staff basis. We will report the results.

“thanks.

Vladimir Putin: Good. Thank you very much.

I think that we will do everything on time and with the right quality.

Yuri Ivanovich, please tell us about the Angara-A5 and its prospects.

Yu.Borisov: Dear colleagues, Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich,

On April 9, on your instructions, we began flight and design tests of the Angara-A5 heavy launch vehicle at the newly built launch complex of the Vostochny cosmodrome. The tests are designed to eliminate all the inevitable problems that always occur at the first start, and to work out all the necessary operational parameters.

As you know, twice – on April 9 and 10 – the automatics interrupted the launch procedure, and the combat crew, together with engineers and designers, had to look for a malfunction. The combat team worked clearly, competently, coolly and deserves all praise.

On April 11, at 12 o'clock Moscow time, the rocket launched, completed all its tasks, as well as the Orion upper stage, created by the Energia Rocket and Space Corporation (RSC) to launch spacecraft into various target orbits, up to geostationary at an altitude of 36 thousand kilometers from Earth.

This was only the fourth Angara launch in 10 years. Three before that, we launched from Plesetsk. This was the first launch from the Vostochny cosmodrome.

It should be noted that the rocket is just beginning to gain its potential, but it is already obvious to us that it has very good prospects. We have high hopes for Angara at the Vostochny cosmodrome. It is designed to replace the Proton-M heavy launch vehicle, over which it has a number of indisputable advantages.

First, we are no longer dependent on geopolitical circumstances, being able to launch heavy rockets from our territory from two launch sites – in Plesetsk and Vostochny, while the Proton-M launch complex is located in Kazakhstan, on Baikonur.

Secondly, the Angara-A5 engine uses much more environmentally friendly kerosene, and not heptyl, as on the Proton-M.

Third, Angara has a large cargo capacity and significant potential for development. Today, the Angara rocket family, which was developed and produced by the Khrunichev Center, includes two versions.

Light "Angara", "Angara-1.2", is a two-stage rocket based on a universal rocket module. It delivers at least 3.5 tons to a low circular orbit (200 kilometers), and at least 2.4 tons to a synchronous-solar orbit (835 kilometers).

The Angara-A5 is a three-stage heavy launch vehicle. Its modules are as unified as possible with Angara-1.2, and if the Proton from Baikonur allows you to put about 23 tons into low orbit, then the heavy Angara from Vostochny in the current version is at least 24.5 [tons].

An upgraded Angara-A5M with a more powerful RD-191M main engine is already being created by order of the State Corporation Roscosmos. By the way, we recently completed fire tests and confirmed all the declared characteristics of this engine. It has increased thrust by 10 percent, an updated control system, navigation equipment, an on-board video monitoring system, and also uses the latest solutions to facilitate the design of the rocket. This will increase the mass of the output payload to 27 tons.

The upgraded " Angara "is being created with the possibility of launching manned ships. It should become the main means of launching a new-generation manned transport ship and modules of the Russian space station being created into target orbits. The first launch of this rocket will be in 2027. It will be combined with complex tests of a new ship in an unmanned version, and this will be our next launch of Angara from Vostochny.

Another promising modification of this rocket is the Angara-A5V with an oxygen-hydrogen third stage, which ensures the launch of payloads weighing up to 38 tons into low-Earth orbit. In the future, this launch vehicle is planned to be used to send automatic interplanetary stations and vehicles for exploring the Solar system and deep space. Subject to the continuation of sufficient funding for the work, flight tests of this launch vehicle are planned in 2030.

Separately, I will focus on the light "Angara". Taking into account the global trend towards creating groups of small spacecraft and the growing need for light-class rockets, Roscosmos has planned and included in the draft of the Russian Federal Space Program for 2026-2028 measures to finalize the Angara-1 rocket launch complex.2 " from the Vostochny cosmodrome.

I would like to note that all these works also provide for further development of the Vostochny cosmodrome infrastructure, including the creation of a new assembly and test building, infrastructure for providing and using hydrogen as rocket fuel components, and infrastructure for implementing manned programs.

Thank you for your attention.

Vladimir Putin: Yuri Ivanovich, do we need to build another table for a super-heavy rocket?

Yu.BORISOV: That's right, Mr Putin. We will plan and build it on Vostochny. Now this is our main spaceport, and it is actively developing on your behalf. Builders do not fail, they build well. We are satisfied. After the start, almost even the paint did not peel off. We passed, looked at the launch pad. In very good condition, so many thanks to the builders for their hard work.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you. I agree.

You need to hand everything in and complete the paperwork. Nothing to be afraid of. Everything is working, everything is fine. Documents must be issued. Let them not be afraid of anything, let them do it, okay? Ok?

Yu.Borisov: Mr President, it's under control. Together with the Prosecutor General's Office and Deputy Prime Minister [Marat] , we are constantly working on this problem.

Vladimir Putin: We must see it through to the end. Everything is clear. It's easy to deal with documents, with these papers, with a huge number of them, and that's all. We need to do this.

Yu.BORISOV: You are right, Mr Putin. 99 percent is ready for construction, and forty have been completed.

Vladimir Putin: Yes. Come on, finish it. I understand what's going on. There is nothing to be afraid of, you need to make out everything – and go ahead. It's no longer 99, it's all 100 [percent]. Let them finish the paperwork, let them do the paperwork, okay?

Please tell us about domestic software in the economic sectors.

Please, Shadaev Maksut Igorevich.

And that’s where the transcript is snipped, at the point where the read-out said was to be the main topic of discussion. In the video, Mr. Borisov seems chagrined, perhaps because the Angara launch was scrubbed the first two times. I continue to be impressed by Alexander Novak and see him as a possible successor to Putin. The medical teams are on top of the situation. I wonder what Russian public opinion is regarding Russia’s equivalent to FEMA. As usual, the volunteer organizations sprang into action. Can you imagine Bush saying to Brownie what Putin said to his emergency managers? And recall that there was a week of advance notice for Katrina. The PG&E fires in California were all due to Capitalist greed and thus negligence in maintenance. PG&E should’ve been made public in 1999 at the outset of the contrived Enron Energy Fraud. As for the cause of the floods, this article is decent enough but far from satisfactory, which is par for the course for AFP. A combination of nature and human error seems to be the culprit with better anti-flood works required for the future as this isn’t a one-off event as the article informs.

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