Vladimir Putin presented the "Volunteer of the Year" award to Anna Pluzhnikova from Moscow

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President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin presented the "Volunteer of the Year" award to Anna Pluzhnikova from Moscow at the National Centre RUSSIA on 3 December during the award ceremony of the International Prize #WEARETOGETHER 2025.

In his address, the head of state reminded the audience that the #WEARETOGETHER movement emerged five years ago. At that time, he noted, the entire country and the whole world were fighting the pandemic.

"There were no effective means of combating this disease and contagion. Nevertheless, people organised themselves and began helping those who needed support most, sparing neither time nor effort. Some of them gave their own lives in this struggle for people — they died saving others. It is an extremely vivid example, one that speaks volumes about our country and all peoples of the Russian Federation. Helping one’s neighbour and supporting those in need is in our blood. And you, your friends and your colleagues do this remarkably well," said Vladimir Putin.

According to him, this is an area of activity that knows no boundaries — it is united only by one thing: a kind heart. The head of state also congratulated everyone on the upcoming Volunteer Day, which will be celebrated on 5 December, and presented the "Volunteer of the Year" award to Anna Pluzhnikova from Moscow.

Anna Pluzhnikova is a person with a Group III disability and a spinal metal structure; as a child, she studied at a sanatorium boarding school for children with musculoskeletal disorders. She later became a volunteer at the palliative care centre "House with a Lighthouse" and an emergency volunteer. From January to April 2025 she took part in a volunteer mission in Anapa, where she worked in the kitchen of the volunteer hotel "Poseidon" and at the Bird Rescue Headquarters. Working in the kitchen became her meaningful purpose, personal calling and true home, proving that physical limitations cannot stand in the way of willpower, resilience, and the desire to help others.

"When I went to Anapa, I saw just how many caring people there are in our country. People who cannot stand aside when faced with disaster. People who left their ordinary daily lives and, sacrificing themselves, went to save our incredibly beautiful Black Sea, its wildlife and its shores. During all three months I spent there, I hardly ever saw a volunteer working alone. I think this shows that we couldn’t have done it without each other. Everything that happened in Anapa happened only because we were together," said the "Volunteer of the Year", Anna Pluzhnikova.

"Volunteer of the Year" is one of the special categories of the Prize. The award recognises personal contributions to the development of the volunteer movement in Russia. Over the four years of the Prize, the award has been given to Maria Karpenko from the Kursk region, Natalia Amineva from Voronezh, Vladimir Taranenko from the Donetsk People’s Republic, and Pavel Berezhansky from the Moscow region.

The International Prize #WEARETOGETHER is established by Rosmolodezh. The organiser is Dobro.rf. The general partner of the Prize is Alfa-Bank, and the strategic partner is Rosatom State Corporation.