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WHO warns of new flu variant spread: vaccination remains the best protection

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

December 16, 2025 Healthcare

Amid the early start of the flu season in the Northern Hemisphere, a new variant of the virus is spreading rapidly, with vaccination remaining the "most effective means of protection," the World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Tuesday.

Influenza and other respiratory viruses are currently spreading rapidly, Wenqing Zhang, head of the Global Respiratory Threats Unit at the WHO's Department of Epidemic and Pandemic Threat Management, told reporters in Geneva. According to her, the current season is characterized by the emergence and rapid spread of a new AH3N2 variant. It was first detected in August in Australia and New Zealand and has since been identified in more than 30 countries, she noted.

Genetic transformation

"Available epidemiological data do not indicate an increase in disease severity, although this genetic shift represents a significant stage in the virus's evolution," Zhang said. Influenza viruses are constantly changing, she explained, which is why flu vaccines are regularly updated.

“WHO monitors these changes, assesses the associated public health risks, and develops vaccine composition recommendations twice a year through the long-standing Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) – in collaboration with other global experts,” Zhang emphasized.

The new variant was not included in vaccines produced for the current flu season in the Northern Hemisphere, the WHO expert clarified. However, "early data suggest that current seasonal vaccines continue to provide protection against severe illness and reduce the risk of hospitalization," she added.

According to WHO estimates, approximately one billion cases of seasonal influenza are registered worldwide each year, including up to five million cases of severe respiratory illness. Up to 650,000 deaths per year are associated with respiratory complications caused by seasonal influenza.

Recommendations for risk reduction

“Vaccination remains our most effective means of protection, including against ‘drifting’ strains, especially for high-risk groups and those caring for them,” Zhang emphasized.

She also shared the results of a preliminary evaluation of the vaccine's effectiveness against the new variant, published several weeks ago in the UK. "These data look very encouraging," the expert said, noting that the vaccine is approximately 75 percent effective in preventing severe illness and hospitalization in children and approximately 35 percent effective in adults.

Zhang warned that the upcoming holiday season could lead to a new surge in respiratory illnesses. "Advance planning and increased preparedness, including encouraging vaccination and strengthening healthcare system readiness, are strongly recommended," she said.

The WHO expert also recommended that countries strengthen laboratory diagnostics and year-round disease surveillance and participate in the GISRS network.

Global monitoring is necessary

The network includes influenza centers in 130 countries, as well as more than ten reference laboratories.

Asked whether the United States would remain a member of the network next year despite the country's decision to withdraw from the WHO effective January 22, 2026, Zhang said, "From an influenza, respiratory surveillance and preparedness perspective, it is absolutely essential that all countries around the world participate in surveillance, preparedness, and response to influenza and other respiratory viruses because we don't know when and where the next pandemic strain will emerge."

"And the time between its emergence, detection, characterization, and inclusion in vaccines could be critical to the number of lives saved," she concluded.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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China aims to boost maritime economy through comprehensive planning of major bays

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

Beijing, December 16 (Xinhua) — China intends to promote high-quality development of its maritime economy by strengthening comprehensive economic planning in its major bays. This was announced on Tuesday by Shen Jun, head of the Department of Marine Strategic Planning and Marine Economy at the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The country's coastline stretches for more than 18,000 km and is dotted with hundreds of bays, including the Bohai Gulf, Hangzhou Bay, and Beibu Bay.

"These areas serve as important hubs of intense coastal economic activity, repositories of rich marine culture, and spaces of significant ecological value," Shen Jun told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.

She noted that China, by promoting coordinated development of land and sea, integrated planning and high-level design, is striving to create a new model of high-quality growth of the marine economy.

The maritime sector has become a vital pillar of national economic growth. In the first three quarters of this year, China's gross marine product reached 7.9 trillion yuan (approximately 1.12 trillion US dollars), 5.6 percent more than in the same period last year.

Shen Jun added that China intends to accelerate breakthroughs in core marine technologies, cultivate and strengthen emerging strategic industries such as seawater desalination and marine biomedicine, and step up efforts to prevent marine disasters and protect the marine environment. –0–

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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China and the Maldives have agreed to expand legislative exchanges.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

MALE, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) — China and the Maldives agreed to deepen cooperation and expand exchanges between the legislative bodies of the two countries during a visit by a delegation of the National People's Congress (NPC) to the Republic of Maldives from Dec. 14 to 16.

The Chinese delegation was led by Wang Dongming, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. He met with Maldivian President Mohamed Mu'izzu and held talks with Abdul Rahim Abdullah, Speaker of the People's Majlis (Parliament) of the Maldives.

Wang Dongming noted that the traditional Chinese-Maldives friendship has a long history. He stated that China and the Maldives are ready to firmly support each other, deepen practical cooperation, expand contacts between legislative bodies, and promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

He called for promoting the continuous progress of the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and building a China-Maldives community with a shared future.

Representatives of the Maldivian side emphasized that the Maldives and China are reliable and good friends and partners in mutually beneficial cooperation. They reaffirmed the country's firm commitment to the one-China principle and expressed their willingness to further strengthen high-level contacts, deepen cooperation in various fields, and promote active exchanges between legislative bodies.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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RUDN University faculty are among the best in the country among the departments of healthcare organization and public health.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

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Teachers from the Department of Public Health, Healthcare, and Hygiene at RUDN University won first place in the 5th All-Russian Teaching Excellence Competition. The competition was held by the Russian Ministry of Health to share best practices and improve the training of healthcare management personnel.

Participants demonstrated the use of modern educational technologies, including digital, gaming, and simulation methods. The competition consisted of several stages: applications were collected from teachers from April 28 to May 15, followed by a submission period from May 16 to June 15. An expert committee then evaluated the submitted works according to approved criteria and selected the top 10. The teachers who made it into the top 10 presented their papers at an online conference on June 19. The competition winners were invited to speak at the 10th All-Russian Conference of the Russian Ministry of Health on Healthcare Management Training, which was held in November.

The winners of the competition were Professor Anna Fomina, Head of the Department of Public Health, Healthcare, and Hygiene at RUDN University, Doctor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Elena Kaverina, Candidate of Medical Sciences and Associate Professor. Their work was recognized as the best among more than 40 submissions from leading medical universities across the country. The award was presented to our teachers at the 10th All-Russian Conference by Artem Narkevich, Director of the Department of Medical Education and Personnel Policy in Healthcare of the Russian Ministry of Health.

Developing leaders

The RUDN University team's work focuses on the experience of training managers for national healthcare systems through extracurricular activities with students—a professional student association and a research club. We spoke with Anna Vladimirovna Fomina, who shared her impressions of participating in the competition.

The competition is billed as a platform for sharing experiences. Did you learn anything useful from your colleagues' presentations?

Yes, we became familiar with educational technologies such as conducting various types of business games, applying elements of systems analysis in teaching management-focused disciplines, studying lean manufacturing and process factory technologies, and many others.

What qualities are important to cultivate in healthcare leaders today?

A healthcare leader must not only possess knowledge of medicine and healthcare, but also possess teamwork, communication, and project management skills, as well as the ability to assume responsibility for overall results. These skills can be acquired through extracurricular activities and training, including within our "Healthcare Organizers and Leaders" program.

Tell us briefly about your experience—how exactly do the PSO and the scientific circle help prepare future healthcare managers?

It's probably a bit early to say that our PSO has trained successful managers in the healthcare system, as we were founded only a few years ago. However, our active members are already successfully pursuing residency training and active research after graduating. I believe we will definitely see outstanding examples of our PSO graduates in the future, but for now, this will take some time.

We published an interview with Elena Valerievna Kaverina previouslyThe teacher also recently won the All-Russian competition "Golden Names of Higher Education." We congratulate the teachers and wish them continued success!

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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Update 332 – Statement by the IAEA Director General on the situation in Ukraine (EN)

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency –

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Persistent instability in Ukraine's electrical grid continues to challenge nuclear safety during the military conflict, at times causing disruptions in the availability of off-site power for the country's main nuclear sites, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today.

Early in the morning of 6 December, at 3:21am, the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) suffered yet another loss of all off-site power – its 11th during the conflict – lasting for about half an hour when both of its remaining power lines were disconnected within 20 minutes of one another.

At the time of the event, all available emergency diesel generators (EDGs) on site automatically started up to generate the electricity the plant needs to operate the water pumps used for reactor cooling and for other essential nuclear safety and security functions.

“While the emergency backup system is functioned as designed, repeated loss of off-site power events increases operational stress and highlights the importance of maintaining reliable off-site power,” Director General Grossi said.

While the 330 kilovolt (kV) Ferosplavna-1 line was reconnected to the ZNPP after just 29 minutes, the 750 kV Dniprovska main power line was restored nine hours later. Earlier in the autumn, the ZNPP went for one month without any off-site power, the longest such event during the conflict.

Elsewhere in Ukraine, widespread military activities last Saturday also affected the grid and external power supplies to the three operating nuclear power plants (NPPs), prompting them to reduce the output of several reactors.

"These disruptions have resulted in fluctuating power outputs, temporary disconnections, and forced outages at some units. In several cases, units were taken off-line or operated at reduced capacity to maintain grid balance and prevent equipment damage following sudden protection actuations," Director General Grossi said.

“In terms of nuclear safety and security, the fragile grid and power situation remains one of the biggest challenges. As the Seven Indispensable Pillarsfor ensuring nuclear safety and security during an armed conflict clearly state: there must be a secure off-site power supply from the grid for all nuclear sites. “All too often, this is far from the reality that our experts see on the ground,” he said.

On a more positive note, the operating NPPs' nuclear safety systems have continued to function as intended, and emergency power supplies remain fully available. The IAEA teams based at Ukraine's nuclear sites continue to monitor conditions closely and maintain communication with operators.

As part of the IAEA's ongoing efforts to help prevent a nuclear accident during the conflict, an IAEA team is this month visiting more than 10 electrical substances, following recent attacks targeting key energy infrastructure. The 1-12 December mission is assessing the damage, reviewing repair efforts, and identifying practical steps to strengthen the resilience of off-site power supplies to the country's NPPs.

At the ZNPP on 5 December, the IAEA team observed an EDG test. At the full-load stage during the test, a smoke cloud and flames of up to a few meters high were suddenly seen shooting up from the EDG building's exhausted chimney. The flames subsided after one-two minutes. The IAEA team was informed that the fire was caused by the ignition of accumulated soot in the exhaust system, that had been piled up during its prolonged operation during the October-November loss of off-site power event. After test completion, the team was informed by the ZNPP that it had been successful and that the EDG was put back to standby mode. The IAEA team later visited the EDG building and did not notice any issues with respect to nuclear safety.

As part of the IAEA's comprehensive program of assistance, the physical protection department of Ukraine's Central Enterprise for Radioactive Waste Management received four all-terrain vehicles. The delivery was funded by the United Kingdom.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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On December 16, 2025, RUTUBE won the Runet Prize.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Gazprom – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

The Blogger Academy program was recognized as the best in the "Blogger Project in IT" category. This free educational course includes master classes on content creation, channel promotion, and audience engagement. The project's goal is to improve the quality of Russian video content.

"RUTUBE values its creators and strives to help them realize their creative ideas. Many talented bloggers fail to reach their audience, giving up halfway through—due to a lack of experience, they get lost in the information space, make mistakes at the start, don't know how to use the platform's functionality, and don't understand how to utilize their strengths. The educational course "Bloggers Academy" was created to help creators find their unique style and audience, and understand how to engage with them."

Egor Velikoglo, Director of Business Development and Authored Content, RUTUBE

Traditionally, the Runet Prize is a key indicator of industry trends. In 2025, projects at the intersection of technology, education, and media skills development received special recognition. RUTUBE's victory underscores the growing demand for training professional content creators.

The event's special track included the "Children on the RuNet" award, organized by the Alliance for Child Protection in the Digital Environment. Its goal is to support initiatives to develop a safe and nurturing online space for children and their families. Gazprom-Media Holding is one of the Alliance's founding members.

The Runet Prize is a national award in the field of high technology and the internet, held since 2004. The prize is awarded to organizations that have made a significant contribution to the development of domestic technologies, contributed to the creation of a trusted digital environment, and facilitated comfortable living conditions for citizens.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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A new diesel-electric submarine has joined the Russian fleet.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

St. Petersburg, December 16 /Xinhua/ — The St. Andrew's flag-raising ceremony and the commissioning of the new diesel-electric submarine Velikiye Luki into the Russian Navy took place in St. Petersburg on Tuesday, the press service of the United Shipbuilding Corporation reported.

The new submarine has joined the Russian Baltic Fleet. During testing, the submarine's specified performance characteristics were confirmed. The shipyard's sea trials and state trials took place in the Baltic Sea.

Velikiye Luki is the third submarine of the Project 677 Lada class. These submarines are quiet, equipped with state-of-the-art acoustic protection systems, and capable of diving to depths of approximately 300 meters. The Lada-series submarines are 66.8 meters long and 7.1 meters wide. They are equipped with missile and torpedo weapons capable of striking both maritime and coastal targets.

Construction of two Project 677 submarines is currently underway in St. Petersburg. Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Alexander Moiseyev told reporters that the keel-laying of two more submarines of this project is planned for 2026. –0–

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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Sergei Sobyanin: An ambulance substation will be built in the Danilovsky District.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Moscow Government – Moscow Government –

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The Moscow government approved two land use planning projects for a total area of 7.19 hectares in the Golovinsky (Northern Administrative Okrug) and Danilovsky (Southern Administrative Okrug) districts. Resolutions on these matters were signed by Sergei Sobyanin.

The sites being redeveloped are located at Block 11-11a of the Golovinsky District and Pavlovskaya Street, Buildings 18 and 27/29. These buildings are currently occupied by warehouses, industrial, administrative, and other outdated facilities.

The territorial planning projects envisage the creation of apartments with a total area of 88,500 square meters for the renovation program. The new buildings will feature underground parking and non-residential ground floors, which will house retail and other service businesses.

A new block in the Danilovsky District will house a 4,000-square-meter ambulance station with 15 parking spaces and a 4,800-square-meter multifunctional community center.

In addition, the area will be improved, creating comfortable pedestrian areas and a cozy urban environment.

The implementation of the planning projects will create comfortable living conditions for approximately three thousand people, as well as over 700 jobs.

The facilities on Pavlovskaya Street will be built as part of a comprehensive territorial development project.

Subscribe to Sergei Sobyanin's official channels on messengers MAX AndTelegram.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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Sobyanin made a decision on the comprehensive development of territories in two Moscow districts.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Moscow Government – Moscow Government –

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The Moscow government has adopted decisions on the comprehensive development of underutilized non-residential areas totaling 35.5 hectares in various districts of the capital. These areas are currently occupied by warehouses and other outdated buildings.

The redeveloped sites are planned to accommodate over 405,000 square meters of residential real estate for the renovation program, as well as public, commercial, and other facilities totaling approximately 183,000 square meters. Resolutions on these matters were signed by Sergei Sobyanin.

The redeveloped sites, covering 34.8 hectares, are located along Kosinskoye Highway in the Kosino-Ukhtomsky District at 18 Bolshaya Kosinskaya Street and 32 Orenburgskaya Street. Their urban development potential amounts to 566,180 square meters of real estate.

Specifically, the project will include a 112,000-square-meter multifunctional complex, an educational complex with a school for 1,000 students and a kindergarten for 350 children, a 5,900-square-meter sports complex with a swimming pool, and a parking garage with 870 spaces. The project will create 4,600 jobs.

Additionally, the sites affected by the redevelopment are located in the Ryazan District at 14 Konovalova Street and plot No. 33/2 Zarayskaya Street. Their total area is 0.68 hectares. The Pluschevo station of the Third Moscow Central Diameter and the Chukhlinka station of the Fourth Moscow Central Diameter are located nearby. Konovalova Street offers the potential for 21,700 square meters of development. The second site, on Zarayskaya Street, will be the site of landscaping.

As of December 16, 2025, the Moscow Government has approved and is implementing 160 integrated development projects covering a total area of approximately 1,600 hectares. These projects are planned to build over 31 million square meters of real estate, creating over 350,000 jobs.

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Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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Georgy Fokin, CEO of Gazprom Transgaz Saint Petersburg, was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the Polytechnic University.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

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At an extraordinary meeting of the SPbPU Academic Council, a ceremony was held to award the diploma, gown, and badge of Honorary Doctor of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University to Georgy Fokin, General Director of Gazprom Transgaz Saint Petersburg, Doctor of Engineering Sciences, and Professor. The decision to confer the title was unanimously adopted by the members of the SPbPU Academic Council on May 23, 2025.

"We are honored to welcome representatives of Gazprom into our Polytechnic family," SPbPU Rector Andrey Rudskoy welcomed the distinguished guest. "Through you, we will continue our creative, scientific, and educational collaboration, which has linked us for many years. First and foremost, we will do everything we can to ensure that you employ top-class engineers. And, of course, we will conduct joint scientific research. We will work together for the benefit of our country and to achieve technological leadership. This is a tremendous task, one we are capable of."

The partnership with Gazprom Transgaz Saint Petersburg (a subsidiary of PJSC Gazprom) has become one of the most significant and productive for the Polytechnic University. In 2014, the university established a specialized department, "Gas Turbine Units for Gas Pumping Stations," headed by Georgy Fokin. In February 2025, he became the head of Gazprom Transgaz Saint Petersburg and the rector of SPbPU. signed an updated cooperation agreement, aimed at advanced training of personnel for the industry, conducting research and development work in the interests of the company and the entire Gazprom Group, and developing and applying advanced technologies.

Introducing the new Honorary Doctor, SPbPU Academic Secretary Dmitry Karpov noted that Georgy Fokin's personal commitment is the foundation of the extensive collaboration between the university and the company, and cited outstanding examples of collaboration over the past year. For example, undergraduate and graduate students from the specialized department, equipped with state-of-the-art computing facilities, are participating in a major R&D project to localize the T32 gas turbine unit, which is part of the GPA-32 "Ladoga" gas compressor unit. An alternative 3D printing technology has been mastered for the manufacture of a fuel injector swirler.

At the request of Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Management Board of PJSC Gazprom, the Polytechnic University promptly launched a program to train dispatchers and offer professional retraining at the Gazprom Transgaz Saint Petersburg training center.

The University's Mechanical Engineering Building has renovated the air system for air testing, and space has been equipped for students in the turbine engineering laboratory.

Georgy Anatolyevich Fokin graduated from the Faculty of Electronic Engineering at the V. I. Ulyanov (Lenin) Leningrad Electrotechnical Institute. In 1994, he defended his dissertation at the Saint Petersburg State Technical University (as the Polytechnic University was then known) and became a candidate of physical and mathematical sciences. In 2016, he also defended his doctoral dissertation at the Polytechnic University on the concept of developing small-scale power generation for compressor and gas distribution stations.

Georgy Fokin is a multifaceted man. He combines his professional career with community service: he serves on the Public Council of the Northwestern District of the Russian National Guard Troops, the Board of Trustees of the Charitable Foundation for the Development of the Tsarskoye Selo Museum-Reserve, and the Board of Trustees of the Russian Geographical Society. He is also the Honorary Consul of the Dominican Republic in St. Petersburg.

"Today, we are not so much inviting another outstanding individual to join the ranks of the Polytechnics as we are sincerely thanking this highly qualified specialist, professional, and remarkable leader for his collaboration and partnership—in full accordance with the SPbPU Honorary Doctorate Regulations—for his significant contribution to the development of cutting-edge fields of knowledge and science, which has contributed to the university's strategic development, the expansion of its areas of cooperation, and the enhancement of its authority internationally," concluded Dmitry Karpov.

Traditionally, to the sound of the student anthem "Gaudeamus," the ceremonial vestments—the gown and headdress of an Honorary Doctor—were carried into the Academic Council hall. Students dressed in early 20th-century Polytechnic uniforms helped Georgy Fokin don his academic attire, and the Polytechnic Rector presented him with the Doctor Honoratus badge, a diploma, a certificate, the book "Honorary Doctors of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University," and souvenirs.

After the ceremony, Georgy Fokin thanked everyone from the podium for the honor and shared his memories of the beginning of his collaboration with the Polytechnic University: "I feel a sense of pride standing in this place, where outstanding people, pillars of science, have stood before me. My entire scientific career has been connected in one way or another with the Polytechnic University. At ETU "LETI," I graduated from the basic department of the Physicotechnical Institute, headed by Zhores Ivanovich Alferov, who later founded an entire faculty at the Polytechnic Institute. After that, I worked at the Ioffe Institute, then moved to the Center for Advanced Technologies and Development. And in 1994, I defended my PhD thesis at the Polytechnic University. Those were challenging times, including for science. When we submitted our documents, it turned out that the dissertation council hadn't defended a single thesis for two years. And during my presentation, they asked me 32 questions. Not because they wanted to overwhelm me, but because the dissertation council members were curious; they missed defenses." I answered all the questions, received a PhD in Physics and Mathematics, and since then my work related to the Polytechnic has only developed.

Georgy Fokin recalled that in 2018, the Polytechnic University was recognized as Gazprom's flagship university. He concluded his speech by saying, "I commit to continuing to support our cooperation with the Polytechnic University."

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.