"Every atom counts": How Kirov chemists celebrated their professional holiday

      For a chemist, nothing is more important than the stability of a reaction. And for a team, it is stability in work, confidence in a reliable tomorrow, and the feeling that your labor is valued. Judging by how the celebration at the "Rodina" House of Culture went, all these components in the formula of the local biochemical plant came together in perfect proportion.

      The atmosphere of a grand event

      In the lobby, there was a sense of anticipation: dressed-up, smiling people of all ages greeted each other, joked, and genuinely rejoiced at the meeting. Everyone felt like part of a big team. After the first bell, the audience smoothly moved into the hall, where a welcoming message greeted them on the screen, and the background music was replaced by warm video congratulations from children, students, and even football players.

      The celebration was opened by the host, who made an unexpected but accurate analogy: the plant's team was compared to a chemical formula. "Remove one atom — and the molecule is no longer the same. So it is in your team: every employee, every role is important," he addressed the audience, emphasizing that everyone here is "that very atom that cannot be removed."

      Recognition from the top officials

      The first to take the stage to congratulate was the governor of the Kirov region, Alexander Valentinovich Sokolov. He called the chemical industry "one of the pillars of the region's economy," and its workers "some of the most highly qualified on our land."

      "I am very glad that your enterprise is developing, reaching new heights, and increasing labor productivity. Together, we will achieve even greater heights!" noted the head of the region, after which he presented honorary certificates to distinguished employees, including the head of the information security service, Vyacheslav Kovrigin, and the chemical analysis laboratory technician, Svetlana Martemyanova.

      Dmitry Panteleev: Year-end results and gratitude to the team

      Next, Dmitry Nikolayevich Panteleev — the head of the plants — took the floor. At the celebration, he was not just an honored guest but the main actor: it was he who was to summarize the year and personally thank those who create the glory of the enterprise every day.

      Panteleev took the stage not with a ceremonial greeting, but with specific figures and projects. "This year has been quite productive. We had three projects within the framework of national projects of the Russian Federation. We worked with the Ministry of Industry and Trade on the creation of authenticators — they were tested in the East, and the properties are good," he said. The head of the plant separately thanked the surface laboratory and the production team.

      But the main words were addressed to those who work in the shops and laboratories. "A huge thank you to such patriots of our plant as Fedyakov, Zalesov, and many, many others, who with their own hands..." — with these words, Panteleev paused, and the hall erupted in applause.

      He announced the launch of enzyme preparations as part of the "Bioeconomics" project in collaboration with the Kurchatov Institute and proudly stated: "We completed the inspection without remarks. Not a single failure of the defense order. Everything on time, as scheduled." This phrase became one of the strongest moments of the evening — it conveyed reliability, responsibility, and confidence in the future.

      Support from colleagues in the field

      Boris Gennadyevich Vesnin, a deputy of the Kirov Regional Legislative Assembly and deputy general director of the Uralchem branch, took the stage. He congratulated those present as a colleague in the industry: "We know firsthand how difficult and responsible work in the chemical industry is. All employees in our industry deserve the most sincere words of respect, gratitude, and appreciation." After his speech, Vesnin presented letters of gratitude to Andrey Andreevich Sorokin and Roman Yuryevich Koshkin.

      The Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship, and Trade of the Kirov Region, Yevgeny Yuryevich Sokolov, emphasized in his speech that within the framework of the new national project, enterprises in the region produce products "that have no analogs in the world," addressing the crucial task of import substitution. "Thank you for your professionalism, dedication, and contribution to the development of domestic chemistry," added the minister, after which he also presented awards to distinguished production employees.

      Then Dmitry Panteleev was invited back to the stage, along with Yegor Sergeyevich Kasimov, the deputy general director of the enterprise. "Thank you each of you for your colossal work, daily dedication, and contribution to our common success," Kasimov addressed the audience.

      A moment of glory for everyone

      The culmination of the official part was a mass awarding ceremony. Dozens of names sounded from the stage — from operators and laboratory technicians to drivers and supply engineers. Svetlana Suslova, Marina Bortnikova, Sergey Shubin, Olga Popova, and many others received well-deserved letters of thanks and certificates. The host asked colleagues to support the awardees with applause, and indeed, the atmosphere of unity reigned in the hall: they honored not only the bosses but also everyone who contributes to the overall result.

      Dmitry Panteleev concluded the ceremonial part. He thanked the governor, who found time in his busy schedule to attend the event, the ministry, all guests, fellow chemists, veterans, and employees. "Thank you all for your work, and happy holidays to everyone! Long live chemists!" he proclaimed, and the hall responded with applause.

      Viktor Saltykov: "White Night" for the main people of the plant

      Then the host took the microphone again to make a final analogy and announce the headliner of the evening. And here it is — that very moment when the official part finally gives way to the celebration. As soon as the lights on stage went out and the first chords sounded, the audience understood: a real show was beginning. The guest of the evening was the legendary Viktor Saltykov — a person whose songs are known by heart by several generations.

      The hall, which just a minute ago was politely applauding the officials, exploded with emotions instantly. The very first notes of "White Night" made the audience forget about their chairs — some began to sing along, others started dancing right in their seats. Saltykov, feeling the energy of the hall, did not remain aloof: he actively and joyfully interacted with the audience, waved his hands, winked, and clearly enjoyed what was happening.

      "You will recognize her out of a thousand," "In the toy store" — these hits replaced each other, and it seemed that the "Rodina" House of Culture had turned into a large dance floor for a few minutes. The artist did not hold back on warm words towards the chemists: he wished them health, new victories, and, smiling, added: "May you have more natural products and... beautiful chemical products!" The audience appreciated the joke with hearty laughter and applause.

      When the music faded, the audience still did not want to leave for a long time — they discussed the performance, took photos, and simply enjoyed the festive evening. Science, production, and a real show merged into one that evening — this is how a true Chemist's Day should look.