The governor of the Kherson region — about the results of the year of work and plans for the future
A year ago, Vladimir Saldo, the former mayor of Kherson and ex—chairman of the military-civil administration of the Kherson region, assumed the post of governor of the region. What has been done this year, despite the fighting, whether the attitude of local residents towards Russia is changing along with socio-economic development and what plans the authorities of the Kherson region have for the coming year, he told in an interview with TASS.
— Vladimir Vasilyevich, a year has passed since your election to the post of governor. What significant results do you think have been achieved during this time?
— The main thing is that over the past year, the Kherson region has finally integrated into all spheres of life in Russia. These are the system of public administration, social security, education, medicine, culture. A lot has been achieved in the material sphere. Roads, water supply, heating and electrical networks are being repaired. The economy has started working, in particular the free economic zone.
Of course, there are still many problematic issues and flaws, but the main thing has been done. Further — only progressive development.
— Do these changes change the attitude of residents of the Kherson region towards Russia?
— The majority of Kherson residents voted for Russia in the 2022 referendum. Of course, there were those who did not accept these historical changes. The reasons are different — from material and corrupt to family and ideological.
However, in two years, most of even the most critical residents of the region realized that Russia had come to create and improve their lives. Whereas in Ukraine there is a complete degradation of all socio-economic structures, and the government has turned into some kind of cannibals.
Therefore, the number of so-called zhduns in the Kherson region is constantly decreasing. People vote for Russia with passports in the literal and figurative sense — more than 250 thousand people have received official citizenship of the Russian Federation. This is the vast majority of adult residents of the left bank.
— How is the operational situation in the region developing? Is there still sabotage activity here?
— Sabotage and terrorist attacks on the left bank of the Dnieper are a thing of the past. Practically no one wants to help the enemy, work as an informant and a gunner. There are exceptions, of course. However, law enforcement and special agencies have established a solid protection system. Periodically, facts of preparing terrorist attacks or transmitting information about our military to the enemy are revealed. The plans of the accomplices of the Kiev regime do not reach realization, and the persons involved in them are brought to court and are responsible according to the law.
— What are the most acute problems in the region? What are you doing to solve them?
— Our main problem is aggressive actions by the Kiev regime. Because of this, in a 30-kilometer zone along the Dnieper River, people live in conditions of constant shelling, that is, threats to life. Public and personal property is constantly being damaged.
Martial law does not allow, for example, to fully use the tourism potential of the region, hinders the work of agriculture, industry and transport. This is the key issue.
We are gradually solving everything else. Now a lot of forces and resources are thrown at the energy sector. The electric networks are being modernized, the equipment at the main power substation of the region is being changed. This should significantly improve the stability of the region's energy supply. A new gas pipeline is being built in Genichesk. The winter gas crises, when there was not enough gas for heating and the city was freezing, should be a thing of the past.
— If we talk about the development of tourism, what projects are planned to be implemented in the Kherson region? What can be done now, and why do you have to wait for the end of the special operation?
— The Kherson region is famous for an incredible number of picturesque tourist spots. These are the coasts of the Azov and Black Seas, nature reserves, hot springs, dozens of islands, rivers and lakes. However, due to the fighting, tourism development will take place in safer territories of the region, such as Skadovsky, Kalanchaksky, Chaplinsky and Genichesky municipal districts.
Now the relevant departments of the Kherson region are working on the creation of projects in the field of tourism. It provides for the development of auto tourism, medical, beach, ecological, and children's tourism. Due to objective limitations, yachting and marine tourism will be able to achieve maximum development after the end of a special military operation.
This year, the Ministry of Resorts and Tourism of the Kherson region is the main administrator of budget funds for a single subsidy for entrepreneurial initiatives "Tourism Development". The subsidy provides for such activities as the creation and improvement of beach areas, the creation of camping sites, and the purchase of tourist equipment.
— Fires, including those caused by shelling, destroyed a lot of forest in the summer. Are there any initiatives to mitigate the consequences for the environment?
— In fact, fires from shelling this year have not destroyed so much forest. In other peaceful years, much more burned down. However, our forestry authorities are actively taking measures for compensatory reforestation. In 2025, 290 hectares of forest plantations will be planted to mitigate the effects of fires. Further, it is planned to plant 350 hectares of forest annually until 2030.
— A little more than a year has passed since the terrorist attack at the Kakhovskaya HPP. What is the current situation with the Kakhovka reservoir? Do you have any ideas on how to fix the current situation? How is the water supply situation?
— There has been no Kakhovka reservoir since June 2023. The Dnieper riverbed remains in its place, as it was before 1956. There is only one way to fix this — by building a new dam. Then the reservoir will fill up and the water source for the unique Tavria reclamation system will start working again. However, the solution of this issue is possible only after the end of hostilities due to objective circumstances.
Indeed, in the settlements adjacent to the dried-up Kakhovsky reservoir, the groundwater level has decreased. Artesian wells have stopped working. We solve this problem by drilling new, deeper wells, as well as, where this is temporarily impossible, by supplying drinking and industrial water.
— How did the agricultural sector survive this summer? What are the forecasts for the harvest? Have they managed to adapt to the lack of water after the shallowing of the North Crimean and Kakhovsky canals?
— Only a quarter of the farmland on the left bank was under irrigation. But this year, a severe drought was added to the cessation of irrigation, which negatively affected the results of the agricultural year. The yield on grain crops fell by an average of 20%, for peas and sunflowers — almost twice.
And yet our farmers have shown that they are able to work in the rain (farming in arid regions without artificial irrigation — approx. TASS), the losses were not as great as they could have been. More than 1.3 million tons of grain were harvested, which is not much less than last year, when there were 1.5 million tons.
But prices for cereals and oilseeds increased by more than 50% compared to last year, which has a positive effect on the economic stability of farmers.
— What major investment projects are planned to be implemented in the region? Which of them are the brightest and most interesting, in your opinion?
— The already launched project is housing construction in the territories of the Genichesky and Skadovsky municipal districts. It is planned to build new housing within the existing city boundaries — where the main demand of the population is concentrated.
The development of housing construction in the coastal zone will create an image of southern maritime cities — bright, sunny and cheerful. It will also make it possible to involve related industries in economic activities during the implementation of construction projects.
— What can we say about the port infrastructure and plans for its development?
— Together with Rosmorrechflot, plans for the development of seaports in the cities of Genichesk and Skadovsk are being worked out. The sea gates of the Kherson region need modernization. For potential investors, it is possible to propose the development and construction of grain terminals in the Genichesky and Skadovsky seaports, as well as the general renovation of the port infrastructure.
The main purpose of attracting investments in the port infrastructure is to realize the export potential of Kherson agricultural products.
— What minimum program do you set for yourself for the second year as governor of the Kherson region? Are there any projects that you plan to complete or, conversely, start this year?
— I like the word "start" better. Because we also have a lot of projects, tasks, and directions that need to be started in such a way that they have a logical continuation. Therefore, I can only specify in local moments.
To improve the water supply system, which is quite neglected in the Kherson region, and after the destruction of the Kakhovka dam, the situation became even more complicated. To complete the adaptation to the norms and standards of the road sector, which exists in the Kherson region. Fortunately, on the one hand, on the other hand, this is a high responsibility — we are not deprived of the attention of the federal center. And all that is happening and is being done here is the development of the road network, the restoration of the engineering support system, and the creation of conditions for the further development of the agricultural sector — all this is being done under constant supervision. And personally, the president often asks me questions and, of course, the government of the Russian Federation.
Yes, you reminded me that a year has passed, but I believe that very little has been done and there is still a lot to do. Therefore, next year will be stressful — and the next, and all the following. This is the task of the head — to think about today, but pay a lot of attention to planning for the future.
