Residents of the Volgograd region, who have the status of “inhabitant of besieged Stalingrad”, are now federally equated with veterans of the Great Patriotic War. The corresponding decision was taken by the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Wednesday, April 19. Thus, 3,997 people will receive additional benefits in the Volgograd region.
Background
Since 1991, attempts have been made to give official status to people who, in childhood, experienced all the horror of life in Stalingrad besieged by the Nazis. It was then, more than 30 years ago, that the public organization “Children of Stalingrad” was created in Volgograd.
And in 1996, the association “Children of Military Stalingrad” appeared, branches of which exist in each district of the regional center. Both organizations provided all possible assistance to those who survived the war in the city on the Volga, however, unlike the residents of besieged Leningrad and besieged Sevastopol, until recently the residents of Volgograd had no no federal benefits or fixed state status.
The situation took off in the spring of 2022, when, on the initiative of the veteran community, supported by the governor of the Volgograd region Andrey Bocharov, the official status of “resident of besieged Stalingrad” was established. Along with his assignment, a special badge is issued in the form of a ten-pointed cupronickel star with the image of a sculpture of the motherland and the inscription “There is no feat greater than the ‘feat of the people’.
Currently, 3,997 inhabitants of the Volgograd region have this status, who from August 23, 1942 to February 2, 1943 were in Stalingrad, plagued by battles.
All are entitled to social support measures at regional level, including 50% compensation for housing and communal services and monthly payments. Also this year, in connection with the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Battle of Stalingrad, holders of this status received a one-time regional payment in the amount of 10,000 rubles.
New Benefits
From now on, residents of besieged Stalingrad will receive a federal status equivalent to that of veterans, which will allow them to benefit from an additional set of advantages.
Thus, residents of Volgograd who have this status will be able to count on a double pension – for old age and disability. The amount of disability allowance, depending on the group, varies from 200 to 100% of the amount of social pension and is set in each case individually.
In addition, residents of besieged Stalingrad are now also entitled to a monthly payment of 1,699 rubles, which is received by veterans of the Great Patriotic War and categories equivalent to them.
Holders of the status of “inhabitant of Stalingrad under siege” can also count on free housing if they do not own a house or apartment. In addition, those who live in an emergency house or whose number of “squares” does not reach the regional norm established by law will be entitled to a quick housewarming – in the Volgograd region this is of 18 square meters. m for 1 family member of 3 or more people or 33 m². m for a single person.
Other benefits include free medical services in hospitals without queuing, social assistance at home and, if necessary, the supply of prostheses and prosthetic and orthopedic products.
The head of the Volgograd public organization “Children of Stalingrad”, Galina Egorova, is convinced that giving federal status to the inhabitants of Volgograd who survived the war as children is above all the restoration of justice.
“We have been waiting for this decision for more than 30 years, it is long overdue and hard-won,” says the head of the Volgograd state body. – For us, it is not so much about money and profits as about recognizing the importance of the feat accomplished by the civilian population during military events. It is the glory and majesty of the city itself. Leningrad, Sevastopol and Stalingrad were designated heroic cities in 1945, and eventually people came to be recognized. Andrey Bocharov, Governor of Volgograd, Hero of Russia, provided valuable assistance in promoting this initiative at the federal level. And now this problem has been resolved positively.
Get the latest news today on The Eastern Herald.
