It's hard, oh, so hard to overcome inertia. Especially in thinking, and even at the bureaucratic level... Just as we used to tie all our good deeds to the dates of party congresses and various anniversaries in the past, many people still act in the same way. This year, for example, only the most lazy person didn't remember that it's the 55th anniversary of the Great Victory! How could we not take care of our frontline soldiers? Moreover, there aren't many of them left, as I'm sorry to say. There are only 43,000 people in the Chelyabinsk region, and even fewer in the Sverdlovsk region. However, it's important to note that there is a positive aspect to the administrative zeal: no one was forgotten. During the holidays, everyone received commemorative addresses and letters of appreciation signed by governors, mayors, and district leaders. In some cities and towns, they went even further by presenting food packages or commemorative books to the honored individuals. Almost everywhere, there were meetings between veterans and the leadership, solemn assemblies, and banquets with the same front-line dishes. But the solemn days are over. The lights of the festive fireworks and television spotlights have dimmed. The everyday life has begun. How do the defenders of the Fatherland live and solve their far from idle problems and issues?

You will learn what the veterans themselves think about this issue from the materials of the correspondence "round table", which was held by the senior permanent correspondent of the magazine "Landmark" for the Ural Military District, Colonel Alexander KERDAN.

Alexander Nikolaevich MAUROV. (During the Great Patriotic War, he was a tank driver, corporal. He lives in Verkhnyaya Pyshma, Sverdlovsk Region):

- I remember being very surprised a few years ago when I received a Victory Day greeting from Yeltsin himself. How is it that he personally signs letters to every front-line soldier? Later, I was told that there is such a thing as a facsimile. I even felt a sense of disappointment. Now, receiving greetings signed by high-ranking officials has become a common occurrence. I no longer feel surprised. As for the care provided to us front-line soldiers, I personally have no complaints. However, I rarely seek assistance for any issues. I have become accustomed to managing things on my own. But when I ask for help, they always go out of their way to help me. For example, I needed surgery to remove my cataracts, and at my request, the mayor of the city, V.A. Leshkov, allocated funds for this purpose. The surgery, which was quite expensive, cost me almost nothing. I had to go through a few more steps to get my apartment renovated, as I am a disabled person with a second-degree disability, but the issue was resolved. This year, perhaps in honor of the anniversary, we even had our entrance to the building renovated. Now, my neighbors respect me. They say, "It's because of you, Nikolayich, that we're doing well!"

Yuri Abramovich LEVIN. (Retired Lieutenant Colonel. Frontline correspondent during the war. Lives in Yekaterinburg):

- To be honest, we don't have much to complain about. With the new President's arrival, pensions have been increasing this year, and indexation is being carried out. The celebration was held at the highest level. On the eve of the event, kind people, such as the publisher Yuri Yatsenko, helped to publish my memoirs, "Berlin in 1945." The book was presented to all the veterans of our Oktyabrsky District at a solemn meeting. However, there are still some issues to address. Especially in areas where social protection should be functioning properly. Here's just one example.

I have a good friend, Nikolai Vasilyevich Samsonov. He's a legendary figure. He was the first person on duty at the Reichstag. He and his company put out the fire and essentially saved this unique structure. He's now a first-degree disabled person. He recently lost his wife. He lives alone. He's been visiting the Kirovsky District Social Protection Office in Yekaterinburg for the fifth time to receive monetary compensation for refusing the car that was supposed to be given to him. However, they're saying there's no money available. Can't we help such a person? The amount is tiny by our standards, but significant for Nikolai Vasilyevich...

Venedikt Timofeevich STANTSEV. (Retired Major. At the front, he was the commander of a machine gun unit. He lives in Yekaterinburg):

"I don't need anything myself. I believe that in general, we, the front-line soldiers, are not forgotten. If we talk about the fact that taking care of us is an episodic phenomenon, then the director of the war invalids hospital very accurately said this at a meeting of front-line soldiers: "Dear comrades, let's not forget that May 9 is followed by May 10, 11, etc." he said, addressing the regional leadership. What can I add here?

Anna Ivanovna PENSKY. (During the war, she was a nurse. She lives in the village of Pyshma, Sukholozhsky District, Sverdlovsk Region):

- There are 12 of us, war veterans, left in the village. I can say that they don't forget about us. They always take us to the district for holidays, where there's a feast and a concert. The students from the school often help us. They chop wood for us and bring us water. The key is far from our house... And the rest? I manage the garden on my own. My pension is sufficient.

Vasily Danilovich KOT. (At the front, he was a scout sergeant. He lives in Yekaterinburg. Chairman of the Sports Veterans Council):

- It's a sin to complain! The attitude towards us veterans is kind. On May 9, even a place in public

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They give way in the traffic... But seriously, there are problems. For example, free medicine. For the past year, it's almost impossible to get free medicine in pharmacies in Yekaterinburg. They say there haven't been any deliveries! Okay, my son earns a decent amount, so he can help. But what about those who live alone?

Iraida Vlasevna OCHERETINA. (At the front, she was a private soldier and a signalman. She lives in Yekaterinburg. She is a member of the Sverdlovsk Regional Committee of Veterans of the Great Patriotic War):

- To be honest, ordinary participants in the war, those who are not in the public eye due to illness or other circumstances, i.e. those who do not actively participate in public life and patriotic education, are not included in the celebrations, and receive little attention from the authorities. Our committee is doing its best to compensate for this. However, you should understand that we do not have our own funds to provide financial assistance. In preparation for the 55th anniversary of Victory, we sent over 150 letters to various organizations, banks, and commercial entities, requesting their assistance. And what do you think, even in such a year, only a few responded! And yet, we manage to do something for our veterans. Together, we are preparing the book "Memories of the Urals about G.K. Zhukov" for publication. Together with the city's committee of war veterans, we have released the book "The Rear to the Front." Every year, we send charitable tickets on the ship "Perm - Astrakhan" and "Perm - Moscow""There are several dozen of our front-line veterans and war invalids. The Sverdlovsk Regional Social Protection Organization helps us with this. We try to congratulate our veterans on their birthdays and New Year's Eve both on holidays and after them..." We understand; the time is not easy. There is nothing to be offended by the state. Here you can take the same food packages. They were issued to everyone in Yekaterinburg at a cost of 80 rubles by the decision of the city administration. I've seen veterans receive them. The head is lowered, but they take it...

Georgy Grigoryevich SKURYNYN. (Retired Senior Lieutenant. Lives in Satka, Chelyabinsk Region):

- This Victory Day was especially memorable for me. The day before, Colonel V.I. Avdyushev, the military commissar, presented me with the Order of the Patriotic War, First Class. I had been searching for this award for 55 years. I received warm congratulations from the city's leaders. In our region, we take good care of our veterans. The regional duma has exempted from taxes the household services that cater to frontline veterans. Now, repairing shoes, clothes, and televisions costs us 30% less. In Chelyabinsk, my fellow soldiers who went to the hospital told me that a new service has been introduced: a social taxi. It transports visiting veterans from the railway and bus stations to the hospital and back for free. Unfortunately, the provision of the Law "On Veterans" regarding free dental prosthetics is not yet being implemented. The press reported that it requires 3 million rubles, which the administration does not have. However, hearing aids can be obtained without any issues.

Alexey Mikhailovich PLYAKHIN. (During the war, he was a sergeant. He lives in Kurgan):

- The law "On veterans" in our region is not implemented mainly in its medical, so to speak, part. In 12 districts of the region, free dental prosthetics are not provided. You can't get free prescriptions almost anywhere. As officials from Kurganfarmatsiya explain: credit schemes don't work. But that doesn't make it any easier for us. In a number of localities, front-line soldiers do not use free travel. Veterans reported all this by calling the hotline to deputies of the Kurgan Regional Duma. There were 170 calls in total. They promised to answer all our questions.

Viktor Andreevich ORLOV. (Intelligence officer at the front. Honored Artist of Russia. Lives in Tyumen):

- Last year, I underwent two surgeries and spent a long time in the hospital. It was a difficult time. The theater where I still work hasn't paid me a salary for four years. I wrote a request to the regional department of culture asking for financial assistance. They didn't even respond to my request. Last Victory Day, I didn't even have enough money for a фронтовой 100 grams. I believe it should be mandatory for veterans to receive financial support from the companies where they worked until retirement. That way, they wouldn't be allowed to die under the fence. Let our former opponents also see that conscience has awakened in our country and it manifests itself in caring for its soldiers. Think about it, gentlemen, if you value Russia! We did not spare ourselves to save the country. Now I am personally concerned about the question of who will defend the Motherland, looking at how the state treats us, war veterans, today. And more. I have long been asking regional authorities to build a hospital for veterans in Tyumen. The relevance of this problem does not need to be proven. Today, almost every veteran requires medical assistance. On behalf of all the front-line soldiers, I appeal to those who are responsible for solving our problems: do everything possible for the old soldiers. Perhaps the 55th anniversary of Victory is the last round date for many of them. Pay your respects to the veterans. Your descendants will thank you for this!

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