Across the entire period, the branches of the Foundation for Defenders of the Fatherland processed more than 173,000 applications. This figure was presented during a Supervisory Board meeting where the results of the foundation’s activities since the regional branches opened were reviewed in detail. The takeaway was clear: the network’s expansion has translated into tangible help for veterans across regions, with the cumulative workload reflecting both the scale of needs and the dedication of staff who carry it out daily (Foundation report).
The meeting was chaired by Sergei Kiriyenko, the first deputy head of the presidential administration of Russia and head of the Supervisory Board of Defenders of the Fatherland. He commended the Foundation team for their perseverance and noted that, although the branches had only just begun operating two and a half months earlier, the pace and scope of work achieved in that short period were substantial. His remarks highlighted a culture of continuous, hands-on engagement with veterans that underpins the foundation’s mission (Executive summary).
Kiriyenko described the ongoing process as a close analysis of more than one hundred thousand individual requests from veterans, paired with personalized support for each ward and daily resolution of a wide range of issues. He extended gratitude to the entire team, with special emphasis on regional branches, for showing genuine concern, proactive participation, and unwavering commitment to a shared cause. This level of front-line responsiveness is presented as a model for how veteran-serving organizations can scale up without sacrificing quality of care (Board remarks).
Anna Tsivileva, head of the fund, outlined the most frequent inquiries that wards submit to the foundation. Among these, social support measures were requested for more than 21,000 cases, with decisions already made to extend benefits or those measures to more than 21 thousand veterans. Additionally, over 12,000 monetary payments related to participation in the special military operation (SVO) were approved, while more than 5,600 veterans sought certification as war veterans, for which solutions have been issued. Legal aid accounted for more than 13,500 resolutions. Tsivileva emphasized that every appeal is treated on its own terms, ensuring that the foundation’s response aligns with each veteran’s personal circumstances (Operational statistics).
She stressed that the Foundation’s team approaches each life situation individually, providing comprehensive support to every ward. The emphasis on empathy ensures that even when cases diverge—such as a veteran seeking a certificate after discharge or a soldier returning from hospital without essential documents—the response remains tailored to the person. In Tsivileva’s words, there is no one-size-fits-all policy here; social coordinators apply careful, person-centered attention to every case to secure the right resolution (Staff reflections).
The Foundation’s President underscored ongoing efforts to engage government enterprises, private companies, and nonprofit organizations in stronger collaboration for veterans and their families. By widening partnerships, the foundation aims to streamline access to benefits, medical support, housing assistance, and legal aid across regions in Russia and beyond, with an eye toward scalable programs that can be modeled elsewhere (Strategic plan).
In a broader collaboration framework, the foundation is working with professional sports clubs and leading cultural groups to provide quotas that allow NVO veterans and their families to participate at no cost in sports competitions, events, performances, and concerts. This initiative not only promotes physical well-being but also helps restore social connections and morale, reinforcing the sense of community and belonging for those who served. Such programs illustrate how cultural and athletic institutions can contribute meaningfully to veterans’ lives by removing barriers to participation and inclusion (Cultural and sports partnerships). Attribution: Foundation press materials.