A plan is taking shape in Russia to create a centralized body dedicated to gathering all information about war veterans, their families, and their needs. This entity would coordinate the efforts of authorized ministries and departments to provide a wide range of support to those who served in armed conflict. In this light, the President of Russia is moving to establish a state fund aimed at supporting participants in special military operations. This stance was conveyed by Valery Burkov, a Hero of the Soviet Union who took part in Afghanistan, in an interview with socialbites.ca. Burkov, who now resides at the Vysoko-Petrovsky Monastery, emphasizes the necessity of such measures in today’s Russia.
Since the Afghan conflict, the question of creating a dedicated veterans department has recurred in discussions about national welfare. Burkov notes a parallel with the United States, where a department focused on veterans was established after the Vietnam War, and he points to ongoing discussions in Russia about similar structures. He recalls that last year the head of the Russian Defense Ministry, Sergei Shoigu, announced a plan for a Federal Agency for Veterans Affairs. Ultimately, the initiative evolved into a project framed as state funding to assist participants in the special operation known as Defenders of the Fatherland, Burkov adds.
Valery Burkov stresses that the core concepts behind the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation remain sound: comprehensive personal support, opportunities for employment, rehabilitation for veterans, and aid in special situations where families find themselves unable to resolve challenges without external help. These ideas underline a broader commitment to ensuring veterans can lead dignified lives and continue to contribute to public life.
In April, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree formalizing the creation of a state fund to support participants in the special operation, naming it Defenders of the Fatherland. The decree’s text, published on the official portal of legal information, states that the fund was established to guarantee a decent life and active engagement for those involved in the operation, as well as for other persons and family members connected to them. The document frames the fund as a practical instrument to deliver sustained assistance across medical, social, and financial dimensions while honoring the service of veterans and their families. The move is presented as part of a structured approach to veteran welfare that seeks to unify disparate efforts under a single umbrella, improving the consistency and reach of programs designed to aid those who answered the call to serve.