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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Zhoga, good evening.

It is not my intention right now to focus on who you are and what you represent, but I must say that you are quite famous in Donbass and across Russia for what you have accomplished so far. This includes you and your close ones who have fought for Russia’s interests and for the security of our people. In fact, your son has sacrificed his life for this cause. You are well-known and have done a great deal for Donbass and for Russia in general – this is how I see it.

Today, having completed your combat missions, you are serving as speaker of the Donetsk Republic’s parliament and have also completed a practical training course as part of the Time of the Heroes platform.

You already hold a very responsible position today and have a lot of work to do, but I would like to propose that you become the Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Urals Federal District.

This is an important job that requires a major effort. The Urals region is an industrial powerhouse. There are more than just industrial sites, since many defence manufacturers are concentrated there. Of course, helping people and supporting them in their present-day occupations is also essential. They have been doing a great deal to strengthen the country’s defence capabilities.

This also goes beyond the defence sector, since this territory is also home to a wide range of civilian manufacturers. If you agree, I will sign an executive order to appoint you to this position today.

Artem Zhoga: Mr President, I am a soldier, and I will work for my Motherland and serve it wherever I can be useful at any given moment. In fact, the frontline, or the line of contact, for me today consists of a major civilian undertaking. That said, I am committed to improving our country’s defence capability and promoting its development, supporting our nation and its people in everything I do. This is the line of contact and the frontline for me today. This includes our doctors, teachers, frontline correspondents, soldiers and even pupils writing letters to the front.

Therefore, I understand all the responsibility that comes with this position, but I am ready to fulfil this mission. I am a soldier, first and foremost.

Vladimir Putin: Good. I am certain that the parliamentarians of the Donetsk People’s Republic will find a worthy replacement for you and choose a qualified person for this post. It is one of the key posts, a very important one.

Artem Zhoga: Yes, and I can even imagine who some of the candidates may be. There are people who have served in the special military operation and have defended this republic for ten years. They are deputies with the necessary education, skills and experience. So, I believe they will fully support this. The deputies will then select from the proposed candidates.

Vladimir Putin: Many of the colleagues with whom you trained on the Time of Heroes platform have already advanced in their careers and received appointments.

Artem Zhoga: Yes, I met with them yesterday.

Vladimir Putin: By presidential executive order, Artur Orlov was appointed Director of the Movement of the First. Alexei Kondratyev has become a senator. Hero of Russia Igor Yurgin heads the Ministry of Youth Policy and Social Communications of the Republic of Sakha. Alexander Surazov heads the Committee on Physical Fitness and Sports of the Republic of Altai. Yevgeny Chintsov is chairman of the City Duma of Nizhny Novgorod. Zaur Gurtsiyev is now First Deputy Mayor of Stavropol. Hero of Russia Roman Kulakov is a member of the Sevastopol Legislative Assembly. Konstantin Yashin is Director of the Samara Unmanned Aviation System Research and Development Centre. And Hero of Russia Vladimir Saibel has become Deputy Head of the Department of Social Development of our largest railway stock company, Russian Railways.

And there is more. Some new appointments are almost finalised. Four people will hold different posts in the Presidential Executive Office. One more person will become Adviser to the Director of the Federal Agency for Air Transport, and another will serve as Deputy Chair of the St Petersburg Committee on Law, Order and Security. One more of your colleagues will take on the role of Deputy Governor of the Kaluga Region. Others will be appointed Deputy Minister of Investment, Industrial Production and Science of the Moscow Region, Deputy Minister of Digital and Technological Development of the Sakhalin Region, and Adviser to the Deputy Director General of Rosatom.

All this is extremely important work. Each of these areas is a significant responsibility, and I am confident that they will succeed. They have proven themselves in the best possible way, not only in combat, where they risked their lives in defence of Russia, but also by showing excellent results during their training at the Time of Heroes platform. I am sure that they will succeed, and moreover, I believe this is just the first step in their promising future careers.

I would like to wish you all the best.

Artem Zhoga: Thank you very much for your trust, Mr President. I am confident that these people will live up to your expectations because the Time of Heroes training platform under your programme truly provides an immense wealth of knowledge.

I would like to note the invaluable feedback we received from our mentors during the advanced training course, which was a tremendous advantage, particularly when it came to addressing any mistakes. Our lecturers presented the material in a wonderful and easy-to-learn format, despite the vast amount of information. It is clear that those who designed the programme approached it with great care and responsibility.

This is why I am confident that we will all live up to the trust placed in us. Moreover, we have formed a strong team of 83 people. We got to know each other, became friends, exchanged contacts, and continue to stay in touch. Even during the advanced training course, we maintained communication, asking questions and helping each other. I am certain that we will continue to support and assist each other in every aspect after we take on the roles and responsibilities you have mentioned.

Vladimir Putin: This is very important because it not only allows you to maintain personal connections, which is valuable in itself, but also to exchange information across various areas of activity.

Artem Zhoga: To quickly address many issues.

Vladimir Putin: Yes, this is a way to supplement each other’s knowledge and create the necessary environment for finding solutions in all these areas of activity.

I wish you every success.

Artem Zhoga: The team asked me to convey their best wishes to you. We all met yesterday, and again this morning during classes. They wanted to convey their sincere gratitude for this opportunity and the trust you have given them.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you.

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