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Mr Nikitin began his report with the topic of supporting participants in the special military operation. In the Nizhny Novgorod Region, the House of People’s Unity project office has been established to coordinate all work with military units, collect humanitarian aid, and interact with businesses and the families of participants in the special military operation. An interdepartmental commission also operates in the region, holding direct meetings and events with the families. Significant work is being carried out to supply units, including with locally produced UAVs. In the civilian sphere, efforts are underway to create a major UAV scientific and production centre. A special training centre, Stal, has been launched to train soldiers for service in the Armed Forces before deployment, with 4,200 people already trained to date. The region has introduced special contracts with families of participants in the special military operation to set out its obligations to them. A total of 26,800 such contracts have been signed. Financial support is also substantial: 38 billion rubles from the regional budget have been allocated for these purposes.

Special attention is being given to the rehabilitation of returning servicemen. In 2024, the Parus adaptive sports centre was opened, unique in its versatility. Grants are provided for retraining in new professions under the Heroes of the Nizhny Novgorod Region programme, the regional counterpart of the Time of Heroes federal programme. These grants are provided both to the region’s residents and to participants in the special military operation from other regions who have some connections with local military units or with the Nizhny Novgorod Region. Together with regional enterprises, additional allowances are planned for the special military operation participants enrolling in colleges to obtain blue-collar professions.

Recalling the President’s visit to Sarov to attend the celebrations of the 80^th anniversary of the nuclear industry, the Governor emphasised that Rosatom enterprises account for 17 percent of the region’s GRP. As for the regional economy as a whole, Mr Nikitin reported that it is growing at a pace 1.7 times higher than the national average. Real cash incomes have increased by 9.4 percent, while investments grew by 8 percent. The Governor also noted that high interest rates are constraining further growth. The President remarked that such rates will not last forever: with inflation already declining, financial authorities will adjust policy accordingly.

Mr Nikitin identified the personnel shortage as the main challenge for the country. To address this, the region is actively participating in the Professionalitet project, which supports colleges and attracts funding from business partners. The Nizhny Novgorod Region ranks among the national leaders in this field, with sixteen industrial clusters already established in Sarov and another three to follow next year. The Governor thanked the President for his decision to create a federal park for the training of industrial instructors in Nizhny Novgorod. He also requested support for the opening of an additional 22 laboratories, which would double their current number.

He also shared about a major educational project: a top class IT campus, with the construction of 18 premises to accommodate 1,300 people already completed. In September, the venue will host the 2025 World Youth Festival Assembly, which will bring together 1,000 people from 110 countries. In addition, 34 new schools for 30,000 children will be constructed under national projects, as well as 47 kindergartens. Work is underway to build a school for gifted children. In total, 250 billion rubles have been allocated for the implementation of national projects within the next six years.

Mr Nikitin also mentioned the work to reconstruct Nizhny Novgorod’s sewage treatment station, whose first stage is nearing completion. This project is essential for both the Nizhny Novgorod Region and the entire Volga basin down to the Caspian Sea area, with the efforts to continue through 2029.

Healthcare issues were also discussed, in particular, an initiative to create a Health Town which will include a cancer treatment centre, and the efforts to implement major projects sponsored through infrastructure budget loans, such as the construction of metro tunnels under the city’s historical centre as well as a project to replace the local public transport rolling stock.

President Putin and Mr Nikitin thoroughly discussed a scope of measures taken to improve the demographic situation. The President praised the programmes mentioned by the governor, adding that they should be addressed by the Government and the Presidential Executive Office and expanded further as they are expected to bring proper results.

The governor also elaborated on a comprehensive programme aimed to promote a healthy lifestyle. Its implementation, in particular, has already resulted in the consumption of alcoholic beverages reduced by 15 percent over the past six months. Mr Nikitin expressed his concern about the spreading use of smoking mixtures and vaping, particularly among children. The governor mentioned an existing legislative initiative on this matter, which is under consideration by the Government. With certain aspects to be addressed, the governor has proposed to grant the regions with the authority to fully ban the retail, wholesale trade, and circulation of vapes. Mr Nikitin came out with the initiative to make the Nizhny Novgorod Region the pilot one in this regard.

The President agreed with the proposal, saying the region implements many effective initiatives and praising the impressive progress it has achieved despite all the challenges mentioned by Mr Nikitin, which are not that different from those faced by other regions in Russia. Vladimir Putin thanked the Governor for the efforts on achieving proper socioeconomic indicators in the region.