Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived today, September 16, at the Zapad-2025 strategic Belarusian-Russian exercises in the Nizhny Novgorod region. He appeared at the Mulino training ground dressed in a military uniform.
The Head of State inspected samples of weapons, special and military equipment at the test site.
He was dressed in a field uniform set without shoulder straps, with stripes "President of the Russian Federation" and "Putin V. V." and chevrons with a tricolor and a double-headed eagle.Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov reported to the President:
"Military authorities, troops of the Leningrad and Moscow military circles, formations, military units of the Aerospace Forces, airborne troops and central subordination, forces of the Northern and Baltic Fleets are involved in the event from the Russian side. From the Belarusian side — the troops that are part of the regional grouping."
In addition, he noted, military contingents and operational groups of foreign defense departments are taking part in the exercises.
"Training tasks are being solved as part of operations in the western and northwestern strategic directions, as well as by a coalition grouping of foreign troops in the conditional Nizhny Novgorod direction," Belousov said.
During the inspection of the exhibition of military equipment, Putin tried on the thermal imaging glasses "Dragonfly", which allow fighters to move freely on the battlefield, they are equipped with an electric zoom and do not obstruct vision. The viewing range of the glasses is up to 1 kilometer.
The battery life is up to 2.5 hours.In addition, the head of state examined the PLC pistol, reloaded it. He also learned about the characteristics of the new Arkuda ST rifle. It was presented to the president by the hero of Russia and the hero of the DPR Yaroslav Yakubov.
"Did you shoot yourself? How are the characteristics?" — the head of state asked.
The soldier assured Putin that he personally uses the rifle, and that it surpasses American and Canadian counterparts in terms of characteristics.
During the journalists' approach, Putin commented on the ongoing exercises.
"The purpose of the exercise is to work out all the necessary elements for the unconditional protection of sovereignty, territorial integrity, protection against any aggression of the Union State," the president explained.
According to him, the exercises are held at 41 training grounds, 100 thousand military personnel take part in them, about 10 thousand weapons systems and equipment are involved.
"Moreover, this is all modern equipment used in practical combat work, and the exercise plans are based on the experience gained during SMO. 10 thousand samples of various equipment, including 333 aircraft: These are tactical aviation, strategic aviation and military transport aviation. More than 247 ships are also used: surface, submarine and support vessels," Putin said.
25 foreign delegations arrived to participate in the events of the Zapad-2025 exercises, 16 of them sent representatives, and six sent military contingents to participate in the events within the framework of the strategic exercises, the President of the Russian Federation noted.