Vladimir Putin proposed discussing some of the most pressing issues, including water supply, housing stock restoration, and construction progress on various facilities, particularly infrastructure. The conversation also touched on the economy, with a focus on challenges in the coal industry requiring special attention, as well as social issues, notably healthcare.
Denis Pushilin began his report by highlighting positive developments. This year, plans are underway to restore 109 educational institutions, 22 sports centres, and 57 cultural and entertainment facilities. However, he emphasised that the decision to rebuild four districts in Donetsk (previously frontline areas) is the most critical step. Now that the frontline has shifted, the government can fully focus on reconstruction. With 2,189 apartment buildings damaged or destroyed and 256 social facilities in need of repair, the effort will be extensive. The work, which began this year, is scheduled to take three years and is being carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Construction, with Moscow serving as a sponsor region.
Denis Pushilin also reported that over 1,500 kilometres of roads have been repaired or built in just 2.5 years, exceeding the planned target. This progress is partly due to the use of local materials, as higher localisation allows for more extensive, faster, and higher-quality construction. Looking ahead, the region plans to complete the Azov Ring section that runs through its territory next year.
On healthcare, the head of the region highlighted the recent opening of a centre for vascular medicine in Donetsk, noting that the Kalinin Regional Hospital continues to expand its capabilities. Additionally, the new vascular care centre project in Makeyevka is progressing rapidly. However, the region faces a persistent shortage of specialised medical professionals. To tackle this issue, authorities launched the Health Patrol initiative, deploying mobile medical teams to serve all municipalities, even the smallest communities. Meanwhile, the local Medical University continues to train highly skilled physicians. Admittedly, healthcare in the region still requires significant improvement. Among the key plans, 18 new rural health stations are set to open by the end of this year.
Denis Pushilin described the irregular water supply as a difficult issue and a serious challenge, one that intensified after the enemy imposed a water blockade on the region. In response to the President’s directive, authorities built a new water pipeline, which now provides a steady supply of 250,000 cubic metres daily. Previously, the region relied on internal reserve reservoirs, which met only half of the demand. To address these challenges, the region established a dedicated response centre for heat and water supply issues last year. Thanks to its efforts, the past heating season passed smoothly without major incidents. Today, a new response centre has been formed under Minister of Construction Irek Fayzullin. Its specialists have already conducted inspections of local water reservoirs and evaluated various proposals for improvement. By clearing riverbeds, they have increased water flow, removed blockages, and reduced system losses. Furthermore, 50 fully staffed emergency teams and 75 water trucks were dispatched from Moscow following presidential instructions. Additionally, the Moscow Region and St Petersburg are providing water trucks.
Vladimir Putin highlighted the ongoing significant losses in the water supply system. Denis Pushilin confirmed that system losses sometimes exceed 60 percent, attributing this primarily to the aging pipe infrastructure. He noted that crews respond to over 100 pipe failures daily across the system. The local water supply facilities, including internal plumbing networks, have not undergone major repairs since the 1990s. Authorities have strengthened repair teams and implemented internal water transfers between still-functional reservoirs.
Vladimir Putin proposed discussing all the issues raised in greater detail.