Meeting with Yaroslavl Region Governor Mikhail Yevrayev

Mikhail Yevrayev Yevrayev MikhailGovernor of the Yaroslavl Region began his report by focusing on the region's contributions to the special military operation, with particular emphasis on support for contract soldiers and their families. A key priority remains assisting veterans returning from the combat zone. The regional programme, Heroes of Yaroslavl, modelled on the federal Time of Heroes initiative, currently supports 300 participants. Each participant is assigned a dedicated supervisor who provides counselling and assists with employment, particularly within the veteran's chosen career field. Additional support measures include an adaptive sports programme titled Strength of Spirit and a newly established regional medal, Honour and Glory.

Active efforts are also underway in sponsored regions. In the Akimovsky District of the Zaporozhye Region, road repairs are in progress and a local community club has been fully renovated.

The Governor reported robust socioeconomic performance indicators. The volume of physical investment is growing at three times the national average, while wage growth matches the Russian average and outpaces inflation by a factor of two. The poverty rate has fallen from 8.7 percent to 6.7 percent over the past three to four years.

Further achievements he reported include the construction of nearly one million square metres of housing and an annual Gross Regional Product growth of approximately 12 percent. The regional budget has expanded by 50 percent over four years, reaching nearly 145 billion rubles, even as the debt-to-revenue ratio has decreased by 15 percent. In 2022 through 2025, public sector wages were adjusted for inflation by 48 percent and all social support payments by 30 percent. The total investment volume has reached 425 billion rubles. New production lines have been launched in the region for goods ranging from disposable tableware, heat-resistant castings, and modular power stations to food packaging, poultry farming equipment, and even local orchids. While ten million orchids are sold annually in Russia - all previously imported - the region now supplies three million domestically grown orchids, with plans to increase this share to seven million.

The discussion also addressed tourism, given Yaroslavl's status as the capital of the Golden Ring. The flow of tourists has doubled, reaching 12.5 million people. A new international airport is under construction, and the region has become one of the top ten tourist attractions in the country.

Responding to the President's comment on the serious issue of roads in the region, Mikhail Yevrayev reported that 2,100 kilometres of roads have already been repaired, although much remains to be done. This represents a significant problem area within the region. To address it, a dedicated design institute has been established, as construction delays are frequently caused by substandard project documentation. The Governor also noted the region's improved standing among the most digitally advanced regions, having risen from the 48^th place in 2022 to the 16^th in the digitalisation ranking.

Regarding infrastructure, the Governor stated that a considerable number of wastewater treatment facilities have been built, and 958 courtyards and parks have been refurbished. He added that a project for the new Mercury engineering campus in Rybinsk has been prepared. In the social sphere, schools, clinics, hospitals, and sports facilities are under construction, with many already completed. The construction of the regional hospital is nearing completion.

Vladimir Putin drew the Governor's attention to the fact that 28 percent of healthcare buildings in the region require major repairs. While the new hospital is a very important and necessary development, the President stressed that the existing situation must not be overlooked.

Mikhail Yevrayev acknowledged the seriousness of this issue, confirming that funds have been allocated for the major repairs of inpatient facilities, which is the first priority. The second priority involves the courtyards of hospitals and schools. A dedicated programme - Access to Social Facilities - has been launched to improve approaches and access routes to clinics, schools, kindergartens, and other social infrastructure. Major repairs remain one of the key areas of focus.