Events digest: highlights of the week at the National Centre RUSSIA
The Arctic
Dossier presentation, the Orphanage Graduates Forum, the results of a new stage
of the volunteer programme of the National Centre RUSSIA and the Ministry of
Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Tula Region Week and
other important events — in our selection of the week’s main highlights at the
National Centre RUSSIA.
The Arctic Dossier — Russia’s first contribution to the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration
On 19
September, the National Centre RUSSIA hosted the presentation of the
"Arctic Dossier" — the national report on the Russian Federation’s
contribution to the restoration of Arctic ecosystems. The "Arctic
Dossier" was prepared by experts of the National Committee of the UN
Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, established in 2023 under the Civic Chamber of
the Russian Federation’s Commission on Ecology and Sustainable Development, and
operates with the official support of the Ministry of Natural Resources and
Environment of Russia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia. The format
for the Committee’s work was proposed by the Russian offices of the UN
Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations (FAO).
Deputy
Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev emphasised that Russia consistently adheres to
the UN Sustainable Development Goals and supports strengthening dialogue on the
sustainable use of natural resources.
"Russia
is the largest Arctic power. Therefore, environmental recovery in the Arctic is
one of our priorities. The Arctic is also a strategic space for developing and
implementing future projects, including those at the intergovernmental level.
This is due both to its significant logistical potential and its unique natural
wealth. In the Arctic zone, to protect ecosystems, we have created federally
protected areas covering around 40 million hectares — the largest contribution
among Arctic states. This approach helps preserve Arctic biodiversity, which
includes about 20,000 species of living organisms. This also involves restoring
populations of rare and endangered flora and fauna," said Dmitry
Patrushev.
The Deputy
Prime Minister recalled that, following the instructions of the President of
Russia, a fund was created to support environmental and conservation projects.
In 2025, 15% of all projects awarded grants were directed to preserving and
studying the natural environment in the Arctic zone, and the Arctic theme was
made a separate category in the competition.
Dmitry
Patrushev noted that further effective development of the region must be
inseparable from environmental care. Work is actively under way in the Arctic
zone to eliminate accumulated environmental damage — clearing landfill sites
and restoring disturbed land. In 2024 alone, reclamation covered more than
6,000 hectares, primarily in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area and the Republic
of Sakha (Yakutia).
Minister of
Natural Resources and Environment of Russia, Alexander Kozlov, stressed that
the Russian sector of the Arctic covers about 9 million square kilometres, almost
7 million of which are marine areas. He underlined that the study and
preservation of these vast territories is a strategic task for the Ministry of
Natural Resources and Environment of Russia.
"Our
research includes studies of global climate change. Preservation means building
a healthy environment. The leading centre for polar research is the Arctic and
Antarctic Research Institute of Roshydromet. Over its 105 years of work, more
than one thousand Arctic expeditions have been carried out," he emphasised.
Alexander
Kozlov also drew attention to environmental safety and the elimination of
accumulated damage. He noted the introduction of modern technologies at
enterprises, regulatory measures to prevent accidents, and the active
involvement of volunteers and the military in cleaning protected areas and sea
bays. According to him, Russia will continue to defend the country’s interests
on international platforms, preserving Arctic ecosystems with the support of
the scientific community and civic initiatives.
Forum of Orphanage Graduates "We Need Each Other"
On 16
September, the National Centre RUSSIA hosted the opening ceremony of the Forum
of Orphanage Graduates "We Need Each Other". The key theme of this
year’s forum was "Young Professionals — Russia’s Backbone". The
ceremony brought together more than 350 participants.
The goal of
the event was to develop innovative solutions for the socialisation of orphans
by uniting graduates, government representatives, businesses and NGOs. In
particular, the aim was to create an interagency strategy that would include
educational, career and social tools for the successful integration of young
people into society, to establish common standards of educational support and a
roadmap for employment with the involvement of business partners.
"Socialisation
of orphanage graduates is an issue we cannot let go. Today the Constitution of
the Russian Federation states that the country becomes the father and mother
for children left without parental care," said Anna Kuznetsova, Deputy
Chair of the State Duma, in her welcoming remarks.
She noted
that a law on mentoring has already been adopted, and other important
provisions have also been submitted to the State Duma. These include three
bills concerning orphans that expand opportunities for receiving housing
certificates.
Alexei
Avetisov, Deputy Head of the Presidential Directorate for Social Projects, read
out a greeting from the Head of the Presidential Directorate for Social
Projects, Sergei Novikov.
"I
congratulate you on the opening of the forum ‘We Need Each Other’, which has
become a traditional meeting place for friends and like-minded people. Without
a doubt, this is the result of the systemic and multifaceted work of the
Community of Orphanage Graduates and children from across the country. This
work is based on kindness, attentiveness to children’s needs, responsibility
and care," Sergei Novikov noted. "Together with teachers, child
protection professionals, public figures and government representatives, you
support young people and often become those very important adults and mentors
who guide them on their path to independent life."
All
orphanage graduates are very different, but they share a common quality, said
Anastasia Zhukova, member of the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy.
According to her, they never stop in the face of difficulties.
Meeting of Governor Dmitry Milyaev with Residents and Experts
The meeting
was held as part of the exposition "Platform of the Future: Region-2030.
100 Steps". The main topic of discussion was family support and the
preservation of family traditions.
"The
Tula region is a land of family happiness," said the governor.
According
to Dmitry Milyaev, demographic policy is one of the region’s key priorities today.
"Our
priority is the family, its support and strengthening. National projects
implemented across the country help regions shape their development strategies.
For the Tula region, this means not only new opportunities but also significant
financial support," the governor emphasised.
In the past
eight years and eight months, more than 60,000 families in the region have
benefited from government support. Among the new initiatives is a one-off
payment of 1 million roubles for ‘early births’: the second child if the mother
is under 25, and the third child if the mother is under 28.
The region
also provides monthly allowances for every child in large families, regardless
of income, and operates a programme to repay up to 1 million roubles in
mortgages using federal and regional funds.
"Creating
a family depends on many factors. But the state must provide support so that
young parents feel confident and are not afraid to have children," Dmitry
Milyaev emphasised.
The fifth
meeting of the original project "Dialogues about the Future" took
place on 18 September at the National Centre RUSSIA. The key theme of the
discussion was the future of innovation and the problem of innovativeness in
the context of the country’s technological sovereignty.
Moderator
of the meeting, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Mass Communications
of the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation and
Director General of the VCIOM Analytical Centre, Valery Fedorov, presented the
results of a VCIOM study exploring what people in Russia think about innovation
and whether they believe the country will soon become one of the most advanced
in the technologies of the future.
"32%
of people believe that in 10–15 years Russia will quite possibly become one of
such countries. Another 23% think that we are already among the most advanced
today in terms of future technologies. Around a quarter, 26%, say that becoming
an advanced and leading power in future technologies is possible, but in a
longer-term perspective — in 20–30 years. The good news is that absolute
pessimists make up only 11%. So there is faith," Valery Fedorov reassured.
Experts
discussed the conditions needed for generating innovation, the sources of new
ideas and mechanisms for bringing them to life. The starting point was the
results of the study "Almost in a Whisper: What Do IT Leaders in Russia
Dream About?", conducted by the Polylog Consulting Group and dedicated to
visionarism in the IT industry.
According
to the project’s authors, the main obstacle to technological breakthroughs in
Russia is that Russian IT giants, unlike most of their Western entrepreneur
counterparts, are uncomfortable with publicity and do not know how to speak
about their achievements. Moreover, these "silent giants" tend to
view futurists as empty talkers or charlatans.
"The
rise of the captains of industry we are talking about happened in the 1980s and
1990s, when dreamers or visionaries were often seen as frauds in society. And
of course, what is imprinted in the subconscious at the age of twenty is very
difficult to change at fifty, especially if you have already achieved
success," explained Gleb Kuznetsov, Advisor to the Director General of
Polylog Consulting Group and innovation expert.
Speaking
about the activities of the Russian Quantum Centre (RQC), which has played a
major role in making the prospect of a quantum revolution tangible, Ruslan
Yunusov, Co-Founder of the RQC and Advisor to the Director General of Rosatom
State Corporation, was described by Valery Fedorov as one of those who
certainly cannot be called a "whisperer".
At the same
time, Ruslan Yunusov explained why "speaking loudly" is not always
the best strategy for innovators and technological "dreamers". If you
announce a goal too loudly, he said, you may be told: "If you promised,
here is the money — now you must deliver," while in innovation things
rarely go entirely according to plan.
Continuing
the discussion, he stressed that innovation must include the right to make
mistakes. His team was given that right thanks to a supportive investor, but
teaching state structures to provide such a right remains a difficult task.
"We
have no shortage of ideas, motivation or patriotism. The challenge is not to
crush them on the way to our goals. If everyone is branded a fraud, genuine
‘healthy’ inventors will never be able to fulfil their potential,"
concluded Ruslan Yunusov.
V International Conference on Countering the Spread of Extremist Ideology
The V
International Conference on Countering the Spread of Extremist Ideology took
place at the National Centre RUSSIA on Krasnopresnenskaya Embankment in Moscow.
The event was organised by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian
Federation.
Igor Zubov,
Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, noted that the
conference was intended to coordinate joint activities and find mutually
acceptable solutions in the field of countering extremist manifestations.
In his report, Colonel General of Police Oleg Ilinykh, Head of the Main Directorate for Countering Extremism of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, drew the attention of conference delegates to a particularly acute and urgent problem — the spread of neo-Nazi ideas in a number of countries and the strengthening of nationalist armed groups, which, with the support of external forces, create systemic risks to public security. The head of the Directorate outlined the Russian Federation’s conceptual approach, based on the provisions of the Counter-Extremism Strategy. This document defines all aspects of combating this phenomenon — from ideological confrontation to operational measures.
"Today,
the updated version of the Strategy is a practical roadmap for all branches of
government and civil society institutions, directly aimed at neutralising the
threat of neo-Nazism," Oleg Ilinykh stressed.
The two-day
international forum was attended by representatives of more than 40 countries
and six international organisations.
Traditional Volunteer Appreciation Ceremony
On 19
September, the National Centre RUSSIA hosted a ceremony to mark the completion
of another stage of the volunteer programme and to present certificates of
appreciation to its participants. Traditionally, volunteers who worked at the
National Centre RUSSIA from April to June, as well as in the first weeks of
September 2025, were honoured at the event.
During this
reporting period, 315 volunteers took part in the National Centre RUSSIA’s
volunteer programme. From the very beginning, the Ministry of Science and
Higher Education of the Russian Federation has been actively involved in the
programme, and 170 of the volunteers were students from seven universities in
Moscow and the Moscow region. Through their efforts, 416 shifts of volunteer
support were carried out within the joint project, and during the May holidays
and the first month of summer, 195 participants from the open call joined the
programme, many of whom spent dozens of volunteer shifts at the National Centre
RUSSIA during their summer break.
"Many
thanks to the students who find the time to help and do good deeds. Without
this support, much would simply be impossible to organise. Volunteering has
already become a way of life. We have many student volunteers. One of the
targets we must reach by 2030 is 45% student volunteers in universities. We are
confident that we will achieve this, because we have a large community of
caring and active citizens of our country who, by their example, show how
important and necessary it is to help," said Olga Petrova, Deputy Minister
of Science and Higher Education.
In her
speech, Olga Petrova also thanked the National Centre RUSSIA for organising and
holding events involving student volunteers. According to her, young volunteers
receive support from active senior volunteers at the National Centre RUSSIA,
forming a united community of caring helpers.
"When
students and experienced volunteers work side by side, a unique community is
created that plays a huge role. In any situation, wherever a person may find
themselves, the first one they look for is a volunteer, because a volunteer
will help, advise and support," Olga Petrova added.
More than
70 volunteers received certificates of appreciation from the National Centre
RUSSIA for their active participation in the volunteer programme and for
promoting the values of volunteering.
"We
have already held so many events with you that it is impossible to count them
all. Every day we work with people, trying to make their lives better, and we
often say among ourselves: the National Centre RUSSIA begins with the
volunteers. With you. Because it is you who welcome people, smile at them and
help them. We are always glad to see you," said Anastasia Zvyagina, Deputy
Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA.
She
stressed that since the launch of the joint volunteer programme with the
Ministry of Science and Higher Education, more than 24 universities have joined
the National Centre RUSSIA. By the end of the year, more than 150 events
involving volunteers are expected to take place.
On 16
September, as part of the Tula Region Days at the exposition "Region-2030.
Platform of the Future" at the National Centre RUSSIA, a meeting of the
working group on the integration of special military operation participants
into entrepreneurial activity and the development of mechanisms for business
cooperation with them was held. The working group was established under the
Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.
The
participants were welcomed by the First Deputy Governor and Chairman of the
Government of the Tula Region, Mikhail Panteleyev. He noted that the Tula
region is among the national leaders in terms of the number of support measures
available to special military operation participants and their families.
Currently, the region offers more than 70 support measures for this category of
citizens, both financial and non-financial. At the initiative of Governor
Dmitry Milyaev, this list is regularly updated and expanded to reflect current
requests and real needs.
One of the
key tasks is helping veterans adapt to civilian life, find their path and
secure employment. At the initiative of the governor, the regional programme
"Hero 71" is being implemented. Two of its modules are designed to
help open one’s own business: entrepreneurship and self-employment. In addition
to training modules, consultations and tax incentives, the programme offers
preferential financial products through the My Business Centre. For example, a
preferential loan of up to 5 million roubles is available at 9% (instead of 12%
under the "Standard" programme).
"I am
confident that through joint efforts and a professional approach we will be able
to develop effective solutions and create the right conditions for the
successful integration of special military operation participants into
entrepreneurial activity," emphasised Mikhail Panteleyev.
Specifically
for special military operation participants and their families, the My Business
Centre developed the training programme "Business Workshop. Time of
Heroes" at the end of last year. Thirteen participants received training
certificates. Six of them opened their own businesses, and one established an
autonomous non-profit organisation. On 15 September, the second intake of the
programme began. Currently, 11 SMO participants and their family members are
undergoing training.
At the
meeting, special military operation participants Alexei Tolkalin and Nikolai
Voskoboynikov spoke about the businesses they started after returning from the
front line.
On 18
September, as part of the Tula Region Week at the exposition "Region-2030.
Platform of the Future" at the National Centre RUSSIA, the Novomoskovsk
Day took place. On the eve of its centenary, the city presented its economic,
educational and tourism opportunities and achievements. The programme of the
thematic day began with the open dialogue "Novomoskovsk-2030: On the Way
to the 100th Anniversary".
"Novomoskovsk
is one of the key drivers of the region. We are investing in its economy,
ecology and infrastructure. But without the participation of residents
themselves, without their ideas and energy, no project will ever be truly
successful," noted Alexei Davletshin, Deputy Governor of the Tula Region.
On the eve
of its centenary, the city is focusing on three key areas: industry, ecology
and education, while also developing its social infrastructure, said Ruslan
Butov, Head of the Administration of Novomoskovsk Municipal Formation.
"We
see the forthcoming anniversary as a large-scale programme of change for the
city in many areas. The foundation is, of course, the economy and investment.
We are also working to prevent the outflow of young people, developing a major
environmental agenda and building social infrastructure — in short, trying to
strike the right balance. And in addressing external challenges, we make sure
not to neglect the city’s image. This balance is what ensures the harmonious
development of our territory. I am confident that together, as one big team, we
will succeed," said Ruslan Butov.
As part of
Novomoskovsk Day, the panel discussion "Formation of the Industrial and
Urban Ecosystem of Novomoskovsk-100" took place. Participants discussed
the modernisation of existing industries and the attraction of new high-tech
enterprises to create comfortable conditions for work and life in the city.
Particular attention was paid to the environmental aspects of renovation.
The
participants were welcomed by Nadezhda Shkolkina, First Deputy Chair of the
State Duma Committee on Economic Policy, and Natalia Anikina, Deputy Chair of
the Government of the Tula Region.
The
programme of the thematic day at the National Centre RUSSIA also featured the
concert "Novomoskovsk: Time of Discoveries", which combined the
traditions, modern culture and the future of Novomoskovsk.
Every Monday, the National Centre RUSSIA is traditionally closed for maintenance.
The Tula Region Week has wrapped up at the National Centre RUSSIA.
The event brings together nearly a thousand students and guests from across the country.
