“We work for export.” Pushilin told how the DPR is being restored

Head of the DPR Denis Pushilin told aif.ru how the republic lives today. According to him, the region is actively recovering, the water problem is no longer so acute, and industrial enterprises are increasing production.

“We will restore all the cities of the republic”

Dmitry Balashov, aif.ru: Civilians from liberated cities mainly come to the DPR. What problems do you have to solve? What are the difficulties?

Denis Pushilin: I’ll start with supporting the residents of Avdeevka who did not want to leave their homes. The city has 10 humanitarian aid distribution points, three medical centers, and United Russia humanitarian centers operate, as was the case in other liberated cities.

Outbound trading is also organized twice a week. Promsvyazbank employees exchange hryvnia for rubles. The Migration Service accepts documents for a Russian passport. Twice a week, employees of the Department of Labor and Social Protection of the Population, the Employment Center and the Pension Fund travel to Avdievka to process the necessary payments and employ citizens.

These are our people, who, by the will of fate, found themselves in territory temporarily controlled by Ukraine. They, like us, speak the same Russian language, but they have Ukrainian documents and Ukrainian currency. So we are trying to quickly solve all the problems associated with the transfer of Avdiivka under our control, and we are helping our people in all areas.

In parallel with this, work has begun to restore infrastructure facilities and residential buildings destroyed as a result of Ukrainian aggression, as far as security conditions allow. The local residents themselves provide all possible assistance in clearing rubble and repair work.

For people who decided to leave Avdeevka, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, together with the administration of the city of Yasinovataya, organized their reception and accommodation. Temporary accommodation centers also operate on the territory of the Shakhtarsky Municipal District. Evacuated citizens are provided with financial assistance and provide them with all possible support.

We will revive our cities. We have good experience from the example of the liberated Mariupol, Volnovakha and other settlements in the south of the Republic.

— What are the prospects for the restoration of liberated cities? How are things going with the restoration of social and industrial facilities in the republic?

— We will restore all the cities of the republic. Unfortunately, the proximity of the front line does not yet allow restoration work to begin in full in Artemovsk, Marinka, Avdeevka, however, preliminary work is already underway.

In Avdeevka, for example, it is more active. In Artemovsk, Soledar, Marinka, due to security issues, specialists are not yet able to even begin preparatory work.

In Avdeevka, lists of residents are being compiled to begin developing a housing restoration program. We formed an initial application for construction materials and working teams of specialists. Local residents have the opportunity to find employment and take part in the reconstruction of the city.

We will move on to the full restoration of houses in Avdeevka as soon as the operational situation allows. But 19 apartment buildings have already been identified for restoration, and an order is being formed for 300 houses in the individual residential sector to close the thermal circuit.

We will revive our cities. We have good experience from the example of the liberated Mariupol, Volnovakha and other settlements in the south of the Republic.

“Donetsk will help the development of the Azov region”

— What is the situation with water supply in Donetsk?

— Compared to 2022, the water supply situation has now improved thanks to the new water pipeline from the Don River. But there are problems due to the deterioration of the water supply system; it cannot withstand an increase in the volume of water – hence the numerous gusts. The deterioration of water supply networks in some places reaches 85% or even more. We try, with the help of emergency teams from regional leaders, to quickly eliminate them and change problem areas of the network.

The leading regions are now actively carrying out major overhauls of the Republic’s utility networks. For example, Mosvodokanal specialists plan to replace 20 water supply and sanitation facilities in Donetsk this year. A new water pipeline is already being laid in the Leninsky district of the regional capital. The worn-out section, where there were about 50 accidents last year, is being replaced. And such restoration processes are happening everywhere.

Water continues to be supplied according to the schedule, but it varies by settlement: in some places water is supplied every day by the hour, in others once every two days. There are settlements where water is supplied around the clock: in Mariupol, Volnovakha, Telmanovo, Novoazovsk, Amvrosievka, Starobeshevo, Dokuchaevsk.

— Vladimir Putin voiced the idea of ​​a railway connection with Mariupol through Donetsk? How much will this help the restoration of the Republic? How can you ensure the security of such a message?

“This will help not only the restoration of the Republic, but also the overall development of the south of Russia. In particular, the Azov region is now considered as a strategic and very promising macro-region, and it is receiving special attention at the federal level.

In this context, we are talking about the upcoming comprehensive work related to the implementation of the Strategy for Sustainable Development of the Azov Region until 2040. This includes the road network – the Azov Ring will be built around the Sea of ​​Azov. And attracting investment in coastal tourism infrastructure.

The enemy’s cynicism knows no bounds; as long as his hands are free, the shelling will continue. It is necessary to move the AFU to such a distance from where they will not have the opportunity to reach our populated areas, taking into account the range of the missiles supplied to the Kyiv regime by Western countries.

A special role in this concept is given to railway communication. In March 2023, construction of a transport hub began on the basis of the Mariupol railway station, including a road and railway station and a new sea passenger port. Restoring the infrastructure of stations and terminals will make it possible to connect the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic and other reunited regions with greater Russia into a single network.

As a result, the railway route will allow connecting the North Caucasus Railway with the Donetsk Railway, including the stations Volnovakha, Mariupol, Mariupol-Port, through the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions with access to the Crimea.

As for ensuring security, I repeat, I have already said this many times: the enemy’s cynicism knows no bounds, as long as his hands are free, provocations will continue, shelling will continue. It is necessary to move the AFU to such a distance from where they will not have the opportunity to reach our populated areas, taking into account the range of missiles kindly supplied to the Kyiv regime by Western countries.

“We are starting to work for export”

— What is happening to the republic’s economy? Name the most successful enterprises in the region today.

— This is a fairly long list in a variety of industries. Donetsk, Yenakievo and Makeevka metallurgical plants, Khartsyzsk steel wire and rope plant “Silur”, MakeevKoks plant… I would like to note that, despite difficult conditions, metallurgical enterprises in the region last year increased sales volumes by more than 50% in comparison Happy 2022.

We are focusing on the creation of industrial clusters; this will contribute to expanding the range of goods, import substitution and, in general, ensuring technological sovereignty in the context of sanctions policy.

Significant enterprises in the mechanical engineering industry are the Yasinovatsky Machine-Building Plant, the Torez Electrical Engineering Plant, the Donetsk Energy Plant, the Donetsk Electrical Engineering Plant, the Donetskgormash, DonFrost, Airlight, Laser, and Energospetsmash enterprises.

We are focusing on the creation of industrial clusters; this will contribute to expanding the range of goods, import substitution and, in general, ensuring technological sovereignty in the context of sanctions policy.

There is already a first sign in the field of manufacturing mining equipment. The Yasinovatsky Machine-Building Plant became part of the Kemerovo Energy-Mechanical Plant industrial cluster.

Work is underway to create an industrial cluster aimed at restoring the elevator industry. We plan to involve 13 of our enterprises.

Large enterprises in the chemical industry: KhimStilInvest, Stirolbiopharm, Engineering Networks, Dontekhrezina and Co. Last year 2023 was also quite productive for the industry: product sales volumes increased by 25% compared to 2022.

I would also like to mention the Mariupol enterprise “Technical Materials”, which produces rare gases: neon, xenon, helium.

If we talk about prospects, of course, this is our largest Gorlovka concern “Stirol” – we hope to launch it, there is an investor.

I can’t help but mention the export component. The Makeevka Cable Plant and enterprises of the YuGMK holding (cast iron, billets, wire rod) are already exporting their goods; DMZ LLC (continuously cast billet, pig iron); Debaltseve Metallurgical Engineering Plant (special alloy); Yasinovatsky Machine-Building Plant (mining machine), Dontekhrezina and Co. (rubber products).