Residents of the Oktabrsky district have celebrated new beginnings with the distribution of keys to new apartments, showcasing Ugrya as one of Russia's most actively developing regions. According to Rosstat, the area now ranks seventh nationally among regions with significant residential construction, having nearly completed one million square meters of housing. The majority of this development consists of multi-family homes, with celebrations occurring both in large cities and rural communities.
Key ceremonies took place recently in Unyugan, where four families received their new apartment keys. "With the keys now in hand, we can open the door to our new life," remarked Natalya Ostapchuk, one of the new homeowners, reflecting on her previous conditions. "My old apartment had a stove, and we froze. Then they installed gas, but the water was brought to us. We lived in decrepit conditions, and now this place is bigger and truly nicer." Her new home is split between two families, boasting room for gardening as well as three living rooms and spacious kitchen with installed gas equipment and plumbing.
Another resident, Galina Shmotina, who works as a confectioner, emphasized her readiness to host guests. "The builders considered everything, and it's all good. I like how they built it," she stated. Unyugan, as a rural settlement, has been primarily focused on low-rise developments, with 56 structures recognized as emergency housing.
Despite its remote location, the community has been successful at attracting consistent builders. Head of Unyugan, Viktor Derkach, shared insights about the local development efforts: "We don't have problems finding investors and builders, but we do encounter issues with the Federal Office of Registration and gas hookups. We're working to resolve these challenges. This past year, 14 families were relocated with 14 new apartments provided: five through direct programs and nine via housing and utilities development programs." Overall, Ugrya has constructed approximately one million square meters of housing so far, maintaining the seventh position among Russian regions. The aim remains to keep up the pace of residential development, with Oktabrsky district planning to introduce at least 10,000 square meters of new housing this year.
Meanwhile, law enforcement has been active in addressing crime within the region. Two residents of Lyantor were recently apprehended for large-scale extortion following operational measures by the Organized Crime Department of Ugrya. Assisted by special forces from the National Guard, police detained these individuals known for their extensive criminal records.
Authorities have established their involvement in extorting property from a local 30-year-old resident under the guise of punishment for an accident, leveraging threats of physical harm. Their illegal activity also included demanding over half a million rubles from another victim, using fabricated claims of debt for theft. Terrified for their safety, the victims complied with the extortionists' demands, leading to approximately five million rubles lost due to these operations.
Viktoria Bazhenova, senior referent of the information department at the Ministry of Internal Affairs for Ugrya, highlighted the investigation's success, explaining, "Police conducted searches at the suspects' residences, resulting in the seizure of documents, a pneumatic gun, two magazines for a Makarov pistol, bludgeons, knuckle dusters, white powdery substances, and other items of evidential significance." This successful crackdown on extortion has effectively addressed concerns over public safety and the pervasiveness of organized crime within the local community.
These stories reflect not only the positive developments within Ugrya's housing sector but also the continuing vigilance of law enforcement to protect residents from crime, fostering both community growth and safety. Residents can stay updated on local news via their Telegram channels and social media accounts.