This story began in 2011, when the Starodubtsev brothers, having lost their parents to cancer, created the Palliative Care Center – Hospice at their own expense. Vasily and Zoya Starodubtsev”. This autonomous non-profit organization, which emerged from a deep personal tragedy, has become a real oasis of mercy.
Through dedicated medical professionals and caring volunteers, they provide invaluable palliative care to those who are faced with an incurable disease. Since 2020, the Center has been transformed: qualified personnel have been trained, a special room has been equipped and renovated, two vehicles for mobile assistance have been purchased, a training class for relatives and a free transfer point for necessary equipment have been created. A medical license was obtained, which was a step towards formalizing their invaluable service. Today, 12 medical specialists and 38 volunteers daily bring the light of hope and relief to patients in Zheleznogorsk and Sosnovoborsky municipal districts.
During the period from 2021 to 2025, medical specialists conducted 3,316 examinations, closely monitoring the condition of patients. The volunteer army provided 3,958 acts of social support and 846 sessions of valuable psychological assistance, becoming a support in the most difficult moments.
The results of this dedicated work are undeniable: improving the quality of life of patients, despite the severity of their illness, the effective use of palliative care to alleviate suffering, and the sensitive support of patients and their families, both at home and in medical institutions. The Center’s activities are based on professionalism, the deepest empathy, ethics and the ability to find a way to the heart of everyone who finds themselves in a difficult life situation. Emotional stability and calmness allow you to work effectively in stressful situations.
Since 2020, the Center has been actively implementing socially significant projects supported by grants.: “Mobile hospice”, “New Year’s Gift”, “Give me a ride to a concert”, “Concerts in the Park”, as well as programs aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle (“Walks with an oncologist”), care training (“Attention and care”) and collecting social assistance (“Diapers for hospice”).
The crowning recognition of many years of work was the awarding of the winner’s diploma and first place at the #MYPLACE International Award in the “Health of the Nation” nomination to the “Help is Coming” project in December 2022.
At the regional award “Kind Hearts of Krasnoyarsk region” in 2026, ANO Palliative Care Center – hospice named after Vasily and Zoya Starodubtseva” was deservedly noted as an example of outstanding public activity.
On June 12, 2026, by decree of the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin, the head of the Palliative Care Center-hospice Viktor Vasilyevich Starodubtsev was awarded the highest state award of Russia – the Order of the outstanding Russian physician Nikolai Ivanovich Pirogov. This award is not only a recognition of the merits of the team, who faithfully serve in the harsh Siberian conditions, but also a powerful incentive for the further development of palliative care in the vast expanses of Russia.
Today, the main goal of the organization is to spread the accumulated invaluable experience of volunteer palliative care in Siberia, where palliative care is just beginning to gain momentum.
To share the accumulated knowledge, the volunteer organization’s work experience was summarized in the book “Life, Tears, and Love.”, as well as two inspiring documentaries were shot. The establishment of an inpatient department is also an important task in the future.
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