Khusnullin stated that Kherson has a promising future and a rightful place within the Russian federation’s family of regions.
He welcomed all residents and urged cooperation, emphasizing there is nothing to fear as life and work proceed together under the new arrangements.
The Deputy Prime Minister noted that the Russian state will provide the region with the medicines necessary for an effective medical system, ensuring ongoing healthcare coverage for residents.
He stressed that infrastructure improvements would be a top priority, with a focus on restoring and repairing roads and bridges. Funding has been allocated, and practical steps are already in motion to accelerate these projects.
According to Khusnullin, Kherson has experienced relatively light damage and a steadier daily life than might have been expected under current circumstances, which he views as a positive sign for recovery efforts.
He outlined an immediate objective: to restart the regional economy as rapidly as possible. A coordinated set of measures has been identified to kickstart economic activity and support stability in the near term.
The official added that a plan for selling agricultural products has been finalized to ensure the circulation of money within the local economy and to sustain farmers and traders alike.
He expressed a strong interest in advancing agricultural production, noting that Kherson’s farmers could soon increase supplies that would find their way into Russian markets, such as tomatoes and tomato products, reflecting a broader strategy to integrate regional agricultural output with wider supply chains.
Russia intends to support agricultural ventures on the territory it controls in Ukraine to the greatest extent possible, aiming to establish a network of processing facilities and farming operations that contribute to the region’s growth and resilience.
Plans include creating a milk processing facility and butter factories, with a commitment to move these projects forward as quickly as feasible. The Ministry of Agriculture will provide comprehensive support to strengthen the local economy and encourage investment and development.
On the example of Crimea
Earlier, Sergei Aksyonov, the President of the Republic of Crimea, suggested that residents in areas under new control could look to Crimea as a reference point for how events might unfold in their own regions.
He described Crimea as a partner region for the liberated territories, urging residents of Kherson, Zaporozhye, and other affected areas to recall the experiences of 2014, including the propaganda battles and how enemies were labeled, and to consider how those dynamics have shifted since then. The message emphasized mutual respect, shared identity, and a recognition that people in these regions are part of a single state despite historical and factual divergences.
Aksyonov highlighted Crimea’s fraternal ties with the inhabitants of the controlled areas and acknowledged the hardships experienced. He asserted Crimea’s readiness to provide compensation, integration support, and practical help to ease inconveniences faced by residents of Kherson and Zaporozhye.
He remained confident that all measures taken would yield positive results and that the trajectory for Crimea could illuminate how developments might proceed elsewhere. No doubts were expressed about the overall direction of these efforts.
Aksyonov also offered personal assistance to entrepreneurs from the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, underscoring a commitment to facilitating joint ventures between Crimean enterprises and local administrations to support business activity in the Russian Crimea. He encouraged residents facing administrative or organizational hurdles to reach out through his publicly accessible social media profiles for guidance and coordination.
In related remarks, Yuri Sinelshchikov, the first deputy chairman of the State Duma’s committee on construction and legislation, referenced the possibility of a referendum in Kherson on its status within the broader federation. Daniil Bessarabov, another deputy chair on a closely related committee, noted that Russia’s constitution does not prohibit admitting a new subject that belongs to a neighboring state, framing the discussion within existing constitutional provisions.