Sergey Chirkov, Chairman of the Social Fund, went to Kaliningrad region on a work visit During the visit, he attended a series of meetings and events focused on developing welfare for the residents of the region.
The key event was the signing of an agreement with the regional Governor, Aleksey Besprozvannykh. The parties agreed on cooperation that will define the priority areas for their joint social work.
In Kaliningrad, Sergey Chirkov visited a honorary resident of the region: the 103 year old Great Patriotic War veteran Nina Demesheva. She told Mr. Chirkov about her wartime service as a combat medic on the railroad that ran through Stalingrad, the Oryol-Kursk Bulge and Ukraine. Ms Demesheva with her unit took part in the storming of Königsberg, saving wounded fighters right on the battlefield under constant shelling. Sergey Chirkov gave the veteran his gratitude and congratulated her on the upcoming Victory Day and the 80th anniversary of the capture of the fortress city of Königsberg by the Soviet troops.
During the visit, the Chairman of the Social Fund also met with participants of the special military operation and discussed support for the fighters and their families. The veterans told Sergey Chirkov about the rehabilitation they had undergone thanks to the Social Fund. According to one serviceman who had sustained an injury, the Kaliningrad branch of the Fund provided him with a shin prosthesis. The fighter fully recovered his motor functions at the Social Fund's Kristall center in Anapa last June.
Mr. Chirkov reminded everyone that the opportunities for veterans to visit the Social Fund's rehabilitation centers have been expanded this year. Now, if an SMO participant is assigned a Group I disability or has to be accompanied due to medical indications, they can get treatment accompanied by their loved ones. Travel, accommodation and meals for the accompanying person are covered by the Social Fund.
During his trip, Sergey Chirkov visited one of Russia's largest industrial enterprises the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad. Located in the southeastern, non-freezing part of the Baltic, it builds ships and vessels to reinforce the navy and civilian fleets at any time of the year. The shipyard is one of the largest employers in the region; many of its employees work in special conditions that make them eligible for early retirement.
The Social Fund is especially mindful of preserving workers' occupational longevity, including at large enterprises like the Yantar. In particular, the Social Fund provides employers with financial support for managing professional risks through preventive measures. This spending grows year to year. In 2025, for instance, the Fund increased occupational safety financing for Russian companies by nearly a third. Compared to 2024, they grew by 30% and amounted to RUB 34.9 billion. The spending will grow by another 20% this year and, according to the forecast, will exceed RUB 42 billion by its end.
According to Head of the Social Fund, since 2025, the full preventive measures financing cycle has been done digitally via the UPSP (Unified Public Services Portal). Presently, 100% of employers in Kaliningrad Region apply for this service online, with no need to visit customer offices of the Social Fund in person.
During the trip, Sergey Chirkov also held a meeting with colleagues from the regional branch of the Social Fund to discuss current tasks and areas of work. He praised the branch's best employees and presented them with departmental awards.