Diplomas were awarded to veterans of the Special Military Operation who completed training in the "Urban Infrastructure Management and Territorial Development" program.

      July 18, 2025, 18:50

      [238]

      Society

      The diploma award ceremony for the veterans of the Special Military Operation (SMO), who successfully completed their training at MGIMO MFA Russia under the additional professional education program "Management of Urban Infrastructure and Territorial Development," took place at the Russian MFA's Reception House on July 17.

      The two-month training, organized by the Main Directorate for Civil Defense and Emergency Situations (MainUprDК) at the MFA Russia in conjunction with the State Fund "Defenders of the Fatherland," was held at the Odintsovo branch of MGIMO. Nineteen SMO veterans from Moscow and Saint Petersburg, as well as from the Moscow, Novgorod, Rybinsk, Smolensk, Tula, and Nizhny Novgorod regions, participated in the program. Among them are three Nizhny Novgorod residents: Ilya Kalinin, Denis Pechurkin, and Maxim Popov.

      The diploma award ceremony was attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the First Deputy Minister of Defense and State Secretary of Russia, Anna Tsivilieva, and MGIMO Rector Anatoly Torkunov. The Deputy Prime Minister of Nizhny Novgorod region, Dmitry Starostin, was also invited.

      The training program included both theoretical and practical preparation on fundamentals of public and municipal administration, administrative-legal and technical-organizational issues, territorial development, and urban digitalization.

      Anna Tsivilieva thanked the Russian MFA and MGIMO for organizing the program and expressed confidence that the acquired knowledge would enable SMO veterans to contribute even more significantly to their homeland.

      "The growth of the economy and the level of social well-being depend on the development of small territories and remote regions, so graduates of the program bear a serious mission. The selection was rigorous; 19 participants of the special operation completed an accelerated training program, and now they are returning home to work with executive authorities to implement reforms. I note that one of the activities of the 'Defenders of the Fatherland' fund, established by the Russian President's decree, is to assist SMO veterans in gaining new competencies, including managerial skills. And we provide this opportunity to our heroes," Tsivilieva said.

      The training was conducted by 30 instructors – active government officials and industry practitioners. The program participants received state-standard diplomas for further employment. It is planned that graduates will be able to take positions in housing and communal services in their home regions.

      One of the program participants, Denis Pechurkin, graduated from the Kazan Higher Military Command School and was mobilized to participate in the special military operation. For successfully fulfilling tasks in the SMO zone, he was awarded the "For Courage" medal.

      "Everything went great! We had very skilled instructors who imparted their extensive experience and dedicated their efforts. It was not easy, but we gained tremendous practical knowledge that we are ready to apply," Pechurkin said.

      SMO veterans were provided with free accommodation and meals, and had access to the modern infrastructure of the MGIMO Odintsovo campus, including a sports and wellness complex, a swimming pool, and a library. In addition to face-to-face classes, participants attended field seminars at infrastructure sites in Moscow and the Moscow region and cultural events.

      Training and employment support for SMO veterans remain a priority for the "Defenders of the Fatherland" fund. The fund offers veterans the opportunity to acquire new, market-relevant professions, which often requires undergoing retraining or advanced training programs beforehand. Over the past two years, more than 7,000 veterans have turned to the "Defenders of the Fatherland" fund regarding training and retraining issues, with over 4,800 of them enrolled in courses.

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