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State Secretary – Deputy Defence Minister, Head of the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation Anna Tsivileva: The Military Medical Academy is a unique organisation that combines three areas in its work.

First, it is a research and technological base where new technologies and approaches to treating servicemen are being developed.

In addition, we train 600 officers a year as military doctors who are currently working in medical battalions on the front line. These highly qualified specialists have thus enabled us to minimise casualties. We have 98 percent of patients cured, and most of them get back to the force.

And, of course, these are the hospital beds themselves: we have 2,000 beds deployed. We are providing aid to our fighters, and it is precisely with high-tech modern medicine, including most complex operations, which are carried out on the basis of the Military Medical Academy.

Vladimir Putin: Mr Kryukov, I told you late last night that I wanted to come over. I see you've already prepared the reports. When did you manage to do all this?

Head of the Military Medical Academy Yevgeny Kryukov: We are always ready.

Vladimir Putin: Good, thank you very much.

Here, of course, you've done everything in the best possible way. You will say a few words in a minute, but here’s what I would like to say. According to information that comes through various channels, including from governors, some of the military medical facilities of the Russian Defence Ministry do need upgrading, renovation, or even new construction.

That's why we talked to the Minister [of Defence Andrei Belousov] this morning – Ms Tsivileva is aware of this. It is necessary, of course, to draw up a whole renovation programme. I repeat, where it is also necessary to build and put in order medical facilities of the Defence Ministry. Especially, since our men, our servicemen from the special military operation zone are being treated there today.

Of course, this will require certain resources, and money is always in short supply, but this is a holy cause – we will definitely find these resources. Why am I saying this? I would like you, Mr Kryukov, and your colleagues, as heads of leading military medical institutions, to take part in this work, in shaping the image of modern military medical institutions.

Yevgeny Kryukov: No doubt, Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief, your assignment will be executed.

To date, this work has already been started. A programme for the construction of new medical institutions and reconstruction of the existing ones until 2027 has been planned with a clear evaluation of the funding. This year more than 110 billion rubles have already been earmarked for these purposes. And there is an understanding, of course, of the Defence Ministry leadership, and instructions from the State Secretary and supervising Deputy Defence Minister of Defence [Anna Tsivileva].

I think that this programme will certainly be implemented. It is a way to show that we care. Probably nothing is more valuable today than taking care of our defenders of the Fatherland, our heroes.

Vladimir Putin: This conversation must be translated into action. Ms Tsivileva, you are aware of this.

Anna Tsivilyova: For my part, I would like to add that we are indeed completing the construction of a number of facilities. We will open 19 new hospitals by the middle of next year and seven new, modern and fully equipped hospitals this year. Therefore, the necessary funds have been found.

We are traveling extensively, inspecting medical centres and military bases where military personnel is accommodated. You are absolutely right: not all of them are in proper condition. Nevertheless, 19 new, modern multispeciality hospitals will open for use by the middle of next year, that is, in the very near future.

Vladimir Putin: Very good.

I ask you, as the Deputy Minister in charge of these projects, to keep track of the progress at all times.

I know that you have only recently joined the ministry, but as I understand it, and as the Minister reported to me this morning, you are generally up to speed, as they say. You have a degree in medicine, which means you understand what I am talking about, and you have a professional perspective on these matters.

I really do hope that this will be accomplished through joint efforts. If you need additional assistance from the Government, please let us know.

Mr Kryukov, did you have something to say about the Academy?

Yevgeny Kryukov: The Military Medical Academy is a unique institution. You have made the decision not to relocate the academy from its historical premises. That certainly required significant…

Vladimir Putin: Indeed, there were plans to evict you.

Yevgeny Kryukov: Yes, [there were plans] to relocate us from here to Lisy Nos. That had certain implications for our working conditions, of course, since almost all historical buildings required major repairs and we needed better conditions for treating patients. Gradually, that problem began to be addressed.

In 2014, we broke ground on the new multispeciality hospital, where we are now. This year, the neurology centre got a new building, and patients are now being treated in completely different conditions. This year, plans are in place to open the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery. The new building is located in another military community, not far from the Vitebsky railway station. There is a historical building there, the Rauchfuss Hospital, overlooking the Fontanka.

Vladimir Putin: It is next to your building, isn’t it?

Yevgeny Kryukov: Those are all our buildings, a whole military neighbourhood. Unfortunately, it is also far from ideal in terms of maintenance. Major repairs and renovations began in 2015, which require significant investment; they are still ongoing. Several clinics will be commissioned already this year.

Vladimir Putin: I know. I have visited that site.

Yevgeny Kryukov: Yes, you visited that clinic some time ago.

The Academy will mark its 226th anniversary this year. It is one of the oldest medical facilities in Russia. Incidentally, the Burdenko Hospital, which I had the honour of heading for six years, is the oldest school that trained military doctors for the army and navy. The first 11 doctors for the army and navy graduated from it in 1711.

Today, the Kirov Military Medical Academy is the only military medical school of the Defence Ministry that annually graduates… We now enrol about 650 students in specialist degree programmes every year, namely military paramedics and foreign students. Currently, we have over 630 students from 33 countries, including Vietnam, Mongolia, African countries and CSTO partner countries.

Th Academy possesses substantial scientific potential, with 15 members of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and over 400 professors and doctors of science on its staff. It has two branches, in particular the department of training and advanced training of post-graduate specialists in Moscow. A decision has been made to open a branch of the Academy in Sevastopol, which is logical in terms of history, where we will train specialists with secondary medical education and offer advanced post-graduate training.

Vladimir Putin: What about your growth potential?

Today, I spoke with head of the Crimean government Sergei Aksyonov, and with Plenipotentiary Presidential Envoy to the Southern Federal District Vladimir Ustinov, who called on me to establish military medical schools there.

Yevgeny Kryukov: Our Academy is highly respected in Sevastopol and Crimea. The competition for enrolment at the Academy is one of the highest among Defence Ministry schools. Competition at the department of doctors for the Armed Forces was 19 people per place for some specialities.

Vladimir Putin: This is impressive.

Yevgeny Kryukov: As for education, I would like to say that the Military Medical Academy is the only Defence Ministry school included in the Priority 2030 programme. This happened more than three years ago.

The additional funding the Academy receives under that programme is distributed among three areas: research, the improvement of educational standards and training conditions, and the introduction of information technology at the Academy.

Allocations under that programme have grown from 100 million rubles when we joined it to over 650 million rubles of additional funding this year.

Vladimir Putin: How many special military operation fighters are currently receiving treatment here?

Yevgeny Kryukov: In total, 2,000 beds have been set up at the Military Medical Academy. About 1,200 beds are dedicated to participants in the special military operation.

We have not been able to convert part of the units, nor do we need to, since we also need to continue the educational process. For example, the obstetrics and gynaecology unit, and the children’s hospital – the children’s diseases unit – continue to function as usual.

In the interests of the Military Medical Academy, a seamless space has been created with district hospital No. 442. This means that all the wounded are assessed and triaged either at the airfield, or [at the station] where the train arrives. The most urgent patients are taken to the Military Medical Academy, while milder cases are transported to hospital No. 442.

In addition, in the interests of the Military Medical Academy, 1,437 beds have been set up around the city, at Healthcare Ministry hospitals, where the most serious patients are operated on by Military Medical Academy surgeons. After that, they need to be transferred to other medical centres, and they are transported to other medical institutions in St Petersburg or other hospitals around the Russian Federation.

Vladimir Putin: Do you need any additional help in working with service members who have been brought to the academy from the special military operation theatre for treatment?

Yevgeny Kryukov: Mr President, the fact is that St Petersburg is a historical city with great traditions. From the very first days, we have felt genuine support of the people of St Petersburg for the Military Medical Academy, particularly for the wounded being treated here.

We have faced several challenges since the beginning of the special military operation. In particular, there was a shortage of burn beds, which involve high-tech medicine. At that time, the Military Medical Academy was the only centre for treating burn patients in the Armed Forces system. We had a shortage of those beds. Within ten days, the Starorusskaya, 12 Foundation supplied us with the required number of beds. The foundation paid for them – and they were delivered, cleared customs, and were installed at the Military Medical Academy.

In the same way, every wounded person who enters the Military Medical Academy is surrounded by care and attention. Each of them is given a pair of sneakers, a tracksuit, and T-shirts. The Military Medical Academy has treated a fairly large number of patients by now, and all of them were provided with everything they needed.

To date, the Military Medical Academy and the Armed Forces have no problems with medical supplies or medicines. I have inspected all stages of medical care, including the most advanced treatments – they have all the necessary medicines.

Vladimir Putin: Good, I understand. Thank you.