"The mistakes of our enemies began with underestimating the character of the Russian man"

Russia will establish minimum regional standards for the support of ITS fighters and their families. Vladimir Putin approved this initiative on March 6 at a meeting with employees and wards of the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation. He also supported the idea of extending support measures to the adult children of the deceased special operation soldiers, as well as to their minor brothers, sisters and stepsons. Separately, he stressed that the Russian Federation does not send conscripts to the war zone, and recalled the only option for peace for the country for a long historical perspective.: "we don't need anything else, but we won't give up our own."

Putin explained which version of the world would suit Russia

On March 6, Vladimir Putin arrived at the unified support center for participants in the special operation, the Moscow branch of the Defenders of the Fatherland State Foundation. Here, on the eve of International Women's Day, he met with employees of the foundation, members of his organization, as well as the wives and mothers of fighters, including those who died. Olga, the widow of Hero of Russia Sergei Chebnev, was among them. Right before visiting the center, the president handed her the Gold Star Order, which her husband was awarded posthumously for fighting in the Kursk region in August 2024.

— At all times it has been the case that the rear for a man, especially for a military man who risks himself, risks his life, the rear is always one of the most important components of motivation in order to fight, in order to achieve victories. And of course, I am sure that, as they say in such cases, there are no non—believers in the trenches, just as there are probably no men who would not think about their family, their women, their sisters, mothers, wives, girlfriends," the president said, opening a meeting with employees. and the foundation's wards.

Despite the difficult agenda, the mood among those present was rather enthusiastic with obvious notes of pride in their heroes: every woman wanted to tell the president about the feat of her husband or son. One even read poems by poets of the Second World War, a collection of which her husband found in one of the abandoned houses. After some of the stories, Vladimir Putin couldn't even contain his emotions. For example, after hearing a story about how a 21-year—old boy, Vlad Dorokhin, was surrounded, pretended to surrender, and when the enemy came closer, detonated two grenades, killed himself and destroyed several militants, the head of state could not find the words: "I don't even have a social question, but related to "<...> Okay, it's hard for me to comment," the president admitted.

Specialists should provide psychological assistance to the relatives of the injured and dead soldiers of the special operation from the very first days, he believes. At the same time, many women, despite the grief of loss, expressed a single position: not to give up and go to the end. Vladimir Putin said that Russia needs conditions for the Ukrainian settlement that will ensure the stable development of the country in peace and security.

— We must choose for ourselves a peace option that would suit us and that would ensure peace for our country in the long term. We don't need anything else's, but we won't give up our own," said Vladimir Putin.

According to the president, the opponents want to return to the time of Napoleon's invasion of Russia, but they do not remember how it ended. "In fact, all the mistakes of our enemies and opponents began with this, with underestimating the character of the Russian people, in general, with representatives of the all—Russian culture," he added.

Separately, the president noted the courage of those ladies who are in HIS service: women in Russia have always been gentle and beautiful, but at the same time courageous and strong, he stressed. Today, women also work in hospitals, perform operations, provide necessary care and care, and deliver humanitarian aid and food to the front, Natalia Poluyanova, a State Duma deputy and coordinator of the United Russia Women's Movement, told Izvestia. They are also helped by social activists in different regions.

"In the Republic of Dagestan, individual escort of female fighters is carried out on an ongoing basis. Medical examinations are one of the strongest areas in the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug. And the Chelyabinsk region focuses on the direction of employment," she said.

What are the relatives of the dead soldiers complaining about?

The women also told the president about the problems faced today by the relatives of the victims and those who are now on the front line. For example, one of the foundation's employees reported receiving summonses for military service by young people who had already visited the war zone. The President reacted strongly to this.

— About (the direction. — Ed.) summonses for military service (to those who have been in a combat zone. — Ed.) — this, of course, is nonsense. But you know that we don't send conscripts to the war zone. But summonses for military service are superfluous for those who have already been to the front," said Vladimir Putin.

He also supported a whole series of proposals from the participants of the meeting. In particular, the initiative to introduce minimum regional standards of support for families and fighters of the SVO, to which the authorities of the subjects will be able to add their own measures. He also agreed with the idea to extend support to the adult children of the fallen special operation soldiers. Moreover, he supported the proposal to extend social support measures to underage brothers, sisters and stepsons of deceased members of the SVR. Such assistance has not yet been fixed at the legislative level for them, since they do not have the appropriate legal status — they do not belong to family members. "The fact that you said that no support measures apply to my brother is some kind of nonsense. And as for the children who were not married, but who were family members. I agree, also about… A woman may have a child from her first marriage, but he is not adopted by her husband. Yes, or brothers. We will finalize it," the head of state responded.

The issue of assistance to the families of missing servicemen was raised separately. Anna Tsivileva, Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, chairman of the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation, said that at the moment such families become his wards after some time and do not receive help immediately. This could be fixed if amendments to the decree were included. The President promised to sign them promptly. Tsivileva also said that the foundation is manually searching for missing fighters.

Vladimir Putin promised to resolve the issue of granting the status of a combat veteran to the participants of their military operations who went to defend their Homeland from prison. The problems that need to be resolved are also pointed out by public figures: we are talking about issuing duplicates of state awards to deceased servicemen and their mothers.

— I have appeals from several regions on this topic. Currently, the current procedure provides for the transfer of awards only to the spouses of the deceased, and duplicates are issued only in case of loss or theft. This creates emotional stress for mothers who want to preserve the memory of their sons," Olga Zanko, a State Duma deputy and chairman of the Victory Volunteers, told Izvestia.

The parliamentarian sent a deputy request to the Minister of Defense Andrei Belousov with a request to assist in changing the procedure for issuing duplicate state awards.