Pomorie discussed the development of the veteran movement and support for the older generation

The government of the Arkhangelsk region held a meeting of the Coordinating Council for Veterans Affairs. It was held by Deputy Chairman of the Government of the region Igor Skubenko. The meeting was attended by representatives of relevant departments, executive authorities, veterans and public organizations.

The central topic of the agenda was the implementation of the Pomeranian Longevity project. Deputy Minister of Labor, Employment and Social Development of the Arkhangelsk Region Sergey Ovechkin said that the project covers all municipalities in the region. In 2025, more than 600 events were held, in which about 2,000 people took part. By October 1, 2026, more than 1,000 events were held with the participation of more than 7,500 older citizens.

“Pomorsky longevity” is not a one-time action, but regular planned work. Events are held not only in large cities, but also in small settlements, including remote areas. The dynamics clearly shows the growth of interest and demand for the project among older residents. It is important that we form a habit for older people to take care of themselves, said Sergey Ovechkin.

Today, the project includes several areas: physical activity and health, education and safety, culture and leisure. For older people, groups of physical therapy, classes on the prevention of falls and proper nutrition, health fitness, joint gymnastics and dances are provided.

On the basis of personnel centers, financial literacy courses, meetings with employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs on fraud prevention, on-site consultations of the Social Troops for remote territories are held.

Since 2025, regular thematic broadcasts with experts in the video conferencing mode have been launched at the Bridge of Generations club. They can be connected to any personnel center in the region.

Creative master classes, dances, patriotic events, exhibitions and fairs are held - the number of their participants has doubled over the year.

In the stationary departments of social services, concerts for significant dates, classes in drawing, neurography, origami and literary hours are held annually. More than 1,150 recipients of social services are involved.

A special place is occupied by the volunteer movement. On the basis of the complex center of social services in the Nyandom district, there is a resource platform for the dissemination of volunteer experience. Volunteers help SVO participants, disabled children, orphans and large families, provide social assistance to lonely elderly citizens, accompany recipients of services to the clinic.

In Severodvinsk, the Grandmother Zabota club operates, where volunteers weave camouflage networks for fighters. In 2026, the first communication centers of generations “Pomorsk longevity” were opened in Koryazhma and Kotlas. Six more are planned for opening in Arkhangelsk, Welsk, Severodvinsk, Novodvinsk, Konosha and Nyandom.

Silver volunteers are a special pride of the project. Older people don’t just get help, they become the ones who help. This changes the attitude to age both in society and in the participants themselves, the deputy minister stressed.

The meeting also discussed the patriotic education of children and youth in the framework of the activities of the regional branch of the First Movement.

Ivan Zhernakov, Chairman of the Board of Regotta Division, noted that work is underway to attract representatives of veteran organizations to the projects of the movement: “Keepers of History”, “Zarnitsa 2.0”, “Pilots of the Future”. Members of the coordinating council supported the proposal to actively include veterans, including participants of the SVO, in mentoring work.

The leaders of public organizations told about the development of the veteran movement in the region: the chairman of the regional organization of veterans Alexander Andreev and the head of the charity organization “Duty” Alexander Leletko. They reported that veterans participate in patriotic and charitable actions, preparation for holidays, computer literacy events, wellness projects and other activities.

Summing up the meeting, Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Arkhangelsk region Igor Skubenko noted that work in this direction will be continued and strengthened. The relevant ministries were instructed to continue to involve the older generation in cultural and mass events, expand circle-sectional activities, develop affordable tourist routes in the region and hold an annual meeting of leaders of volunteer activities.