Website of the President of Russia: All Publications

Meeting with Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyov

2026-07-30T17:30:35+04:00

The Governor of the Moscow Region briefed the President on the region’s socioeconomic situation.

Andrei Vorobyov began his report by discussing the economy, noting that the Moscow Region – like Moscow and St Petersburg – has traditionally been a leader in economic development. He spoke about the development of industrial park infrastructure and joint work with the Ministry of Industry and Trade in robotics, with around seven companies in the region set to produce robots for logistics warehouses and manufacturing. Extensive work is also under way in the housing and utilities sector and in preparations for winter. In response to the President’s comment on the region’s significant housing and utilities debt, the Governor reported that major programmes are being implemented, specifically in electricity, heating and social gas infrastructure development.

According to the Governor, supporting participants in the special military operation and their families remains a priority. There are 36 regional support measures, which are being delivered proactively, and rehabilitation centres are also operating.

The Governor also touched on public safety in the wake of drone attacks, support for those who have lost property or been injured, and the protection of critical facilities.

Furthermore, Andrei Vorobyov discussed the work of the State Council Commission on Data Economy, which he chairs. The Commission’s remit covers everything related to artificial intelligence and digital technologies. He presented a chart showing the dynamics of AI adoption, noting that a large number of projects are being rolled out in schools, public services, and healthcare. The NeuroLawyer project – a specialised AI assistant for legal practice – is also being implemented. A “data mart” has been created for the regions – a unified data platform allowing each region to select a product that best suits its needs. For example, one product may work better in Moscow, another in Sakhalin, and another in Tatarstan.

The Governor also mentioned the initiative to offer cyber lessons – a computer science class that focuses on both safety and skills. The children are enjoying the lessons, and extensive work has been carried out to train teachers.

The discussion also covered the development of vocational education in the Moscow Region, the modernisation of colleges and technical schools, and the work of the Roshal Children’s Research and Clinical Centre, which is already running at full capacity and performing over 90 surgeries daily.

In this context, the President noted that, in addition to large medical centres, attention must be paid to outpatient care, given the large influx of migrants in the Moscow Region. He suggested there is room for improvement, as the region still lacks sufficient capacity in this area.

Andrei Vorobyov agreed with this observation and confirmed that this is a complex issue for the region, and that primary care always requires a tailored approach. To address the matter, the region is working to outfit outpatient clinics with modern equipment.

The Governor concluded his report with an update on the construction (under a concession agreement) of the Yuzhno-Lytkarinskaya highway, a strategically important project for the region due to be completed by September 1 with federal support.

Address to participants and guests of 3rd Games of the Future International Multisport Tournament

2026-07-29T14:59:15+04:00

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President,

Tournament participants, guests, and heads of delegations,

Ladies and gentlemen, friends,

Welcome to the opening ceremony of the 3rd Games of the Future International Multisport Tournament.

This unique sport event fuses sport and innovation, physical and intellectual achievement. Their primary mission is to foster the well-rounded development of people who embrace the future, are open to innovation, and confidently harness cutting-edge technologies – those who value knowledge and are committed to continuous self-improvement.

I am confident that, over time, the number of disciplines included in the Games programme – and in phygital sports as a whole – will continue to grow, along with their popularity.

Russia is one of the world’s leading sporting nations, the birthplace of great athletes, records, and victories. We are proud that our country stood at the forefront of the phygital movement and, of course, are creating every possible condition for the further development of this sport.

As you know, the All-Russian Federation of Phygital Sports was established back in November 2022. Then, in February and March 2024, we hosted the inaugural Games of the Future, which attracted tremendous interest from both athletes and spectators around the world.

I would like to emphasise that from the very outset these Games have remained free from political confrontation, discrimination in any form, and double standards.

It is also important that the geography of the Games continues to expand. This year, the baton has passed from last year’s host, Abu Dhabi, to Astana – a vibrant, modern, and dynamically developing city.

I would like to pay special tribute to President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s significant contribution to the development of the phygital movement and the Games of the Future. It is thanks to his personal commitment and active support that the third edition of the Games is taking place in Astana.

Kazakhstan boasts tremendous sporting potential, and its athletes have rightfully earned numerous honours at prestigious international competitions. We are very familiar with the traditions of generosity and hospitality that our Kazakh friends are known for. I am therefore confident that the Games will be organised to the highest standards and will delight both competitors and spectators with thrilling, hard-fought contests.

I wish all the participants every success and all the guests an unforgettable experience.

Godspeed!

Olga Abramova appointed Acting Head of Udmurtia

2026-07-29T14:04:02+04:00

The President signed Executive Order On the Acting Head of the Republic of Udmurtia.

Following a request from Head of the Republic of Udmurtia Alexander Brechalov for the early termination of his mandate, the President signed an Executive Order accepting his resignation.

The same Executive Order appoints Olga Abramova as Acting Head of the Republic of Udmurtia until an elected head of the Republic takes office.

Meeting with Olga Abramova

2026-07-29T14:04:52+04:00

The President met with Olga Abramova in the Kremlin and offered her the post of acting head of the Udmurt Republic.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Ms Abramova, you were born in Udmurtia, have worked there practically your entire life, correct?

Olga Abramova: Yes, I grew up and built my career there.

Vladimir Putin: You have risen to the position of de facto head of [regional] government.

Olga Abramova: Yes.

Vladimir Putin: How would you assess the current situation in the region?

Olga Abramova: I believe Udmurtia has laid a very solid foundation for development. Active projects are currently underway in road construction, housing and utilities, and the social sector. Therefore, I believe the region’s development outlook is very promising indeed.

Furthermore, the economy continues to grow. The focus on small and medium-sized businesses nine years ago was the right decision, as this category has shown the greatest growth. At the same time, industry (Udmurtia is an industrial region) is also showing significant growth, so we have a balanced picture here. But, of course, there is always room for improvement.

Vladimir Putin: The current leader has done a great deal in recent years to develop the regional economy. The defence industry plays a large role too, as we know well.

Do you feel ready to take the next steps building on the foundation that has already been created?

Olga Abramova: Yes, for me this is certainly a great challenge, a serious one, and a huge responsibility. In that sense, I am grateful that you see such potential in me. That means a great deal to me.

And, of course, the team that has already been formed in Udmurtia, and what has been accomplished, will undoubtedly allow us to move forward smoothly.

Vladimir Putin: You were a local council member, and you have worked in joint-stock companies and in various government agencies. You have solid experience, you know the situation and you know the people. This is your small motherland. I wish you every success.

Olga Abramova: Thank you very much, Mr President.

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Meeting with Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko

2026-07-28T20:02:36+04:00

The Speaker of the upper house of parliament reported on the Federation Council performance during the spring session. The priorities included demography, support for the current and former personnel involved in the special military operation as well as their families, and modernisation of children’s leisure and health infrastructure.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, Ms Matviyenko.

I can see from the documents that you have approved over 300 federal laws during this session.

Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko: Yes, Mr President, over seven months. The session was rather intense and dynamic but we worked as usual and fulfilled all the plans concerning the national development goals you had approved, as well as other instructions of yours, including those issues at St Petersburg International Economic Forum.

It is important to note that, out of over 300 laws, more than one-third are social laws focused on social support. As prescribed, the senators drafted and submitted another 130 bills. Mr President, all these bills are responses to requests from regional officials and the public. Some of them have already passed.

Looking purely at statistics, the senators are currently among the three leading categories for the number of legislative initiatives submitted. This shows significant recent growth.

A crucial topic I wanted to report to you about, Mr President, is demography, which has been our priority. You labelled it as a strategic priority for everybody, which is true. I want to confirm, objectively and based on facts, that the measures adopted at your instruction are already bringing results. There are reasons to believe – and I always speak honestly – that the attitude to family, children and family values in society is certainly changing for the better.

Last year, the birth rate increased in 18 regions, and the number of large families is growing as well. Over the past year, which is especially pleasing, the number of student families has doubled, and half of them already have children. This is a result of the support measures proposed by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and measures according to which higher schools have created conditions for student families with children.

You know, universities have entered a kind of competition for the greatest number of families with children. We have held the 2nd National Festival of Student Families at Moscow State University with support from MSU Rector Viktor Sadovnichy. Words cannot describe this atmosphere; you have to feel it for yourself. As you have said, these festivals have set a trend for families and children.

In addition, last year, the number of social orphans has decreased by 17 percent. Speaking about the atmosphere, which has improved, the number of children whose parents have either been deprived of or restricted in their parental rights has decreased by 25 percent. The number of children in orphanages has decreased, too.

It is also encouraging that the number of abortions has been falling consistently in the past two years. It has decreased by nearly 12 percent over the last two years. The best result has been reported in the Vologda Region, where the number of abortions has fallen by 45 percent. This is also the result of measures taken by the regional authorities. So much for the facts.

I will not dwell on this any longer. I regularly report the demographic situation to you. I know that it has your personal attention. In late May, we held a meting of the Presidential Council on Demography. You know, we had a very interesting and creative discussion, and many new proposals have been advanced. The Council members took an active part in its work. We have prepared and forwarded to you a set of proposals based on the results of that meeting. We are waiting for your instructions following that meeting.

Mr President, do you know what we are really pleased about? It is that everyone has joined in our demographic efforts. Everyone, including the regions, the regional and municipal authorities, ministries and government agencies have prepared sectoral programmes.

Our businesses have also joined in, surprisingly actively. We unofficially call it “the demographic millionaire club.” About 200 enterprises have adopted a “golden corporate standard,” paying out 1 million rubles to their employees for the birth of every child. These corporate standards also include kindergartens, lots of other benefits, and flexible working hours for women. Moreover, they are not being pushed, they are doing it of their own accord because they are aware of the importance of this policy, including for the future of their enterprises. Public institutions, the People’s Front and NGOs have also joined in this drive. I believe that we must keep up this topic in the spotlight so that everyone becomes aware of its importance.

Obviously, support for the current participants and veterans of the special military operation as well as their families is among our traditional priorities.

Mr President, I would like to thank you for the Executive Order to ensure equal support for participants in the special military operation and their families in all Russian regions. It was an awaited decision. Over this session alone, we approved some 50 bills that serve the goals of the special military operation. Since 2022, we have considered and passed over 400 bills, including over 160 bills on social support measures for our heroes. They concern assistance with education, employment, and so on.

You know, it may seem that after so many laws passed, one could stop. They may now be more specific but it doesn’t make them less significant because even small unaccounted issues – usually raised by special military operation participants with whom we maintain continuous dialogue – are worth clarifying and adjusting so that every hero in every place is guaranteed their social rights.

Another topic that you supported at the time is the modernisation of children’s recreation and health infrastructure which the Federation Council has been handling substantively. Over the four years since the launch of this programme, with the small support funding allocated to the regions from the federal budget, 336 new accommodation facilities have been built in 70 regions. Furthermore, major renovation of the infrastructure has been conducted, including catering facilities, medical stations and other amenities, which provides annual health improvement opportunities to over 200,000 children. Primarily this applies to the children of special military operation veterans, as well as the children of doctors, teachers, and children from large families. We will continue. In view of your instruction, the Government responded with two billion per year while the rest is provided by the regions. Most importantly, we are restoring the base that was lost earlier.

During the session, we held several traditional days of the Russian regions. We launched open dialogues with ministers. It is a practice when senators meet for an open and engaged dialogue during government hours.

The Council for the Integration of Reunified Regions, established under the Federation Council, has been operating actively. Federal laws are all well and good, but you have set the goal of bringing infrastructure and services in all reunified regions up to national standards by 2030. In practice, however, gaps emerge – some things are overlooked in legislation, others in regulatory acts, and some issues simply arise in the course of implementation. To address this, we are holding Council meetings with the leaders of Donbass and Novorossiya to discuss what needs to be put into practice on the ground. Given the cross-departmental nature of this work, Government members are also involved. The governors of all the newly reunified regions have found the Council extremely useful. In some cases, legislation needs to be refined; in others, deadlines need to be extended. The Council is developing practical approaches to these challenges, and we are putting them into effect.

As you are aware, the Federation Council is not only a legislative body but also a representative one, and we have been introducing new formats and expanding our work across a range of areas. For example, we recently held a broad dialogue with cultural figures, artists, and regional theatre directors. They raised a number of pressing issues, all of which we are addressing. We do not simply hold meetings for the sake of it – we follow through and bring matters to a conclusion.

One thing that did not surprise me, but rather confirmed my expectations, was the overwhelmingly positive and patriotic spirit we encountered. This is reflected across all our work. We even came across a situation where theatre companies approached us wanting to take concerts and performances to our special military operation personnel, but they did not know who to contact or how to arrange it. We worked with the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Defence to establish a “one-stop-shop,” so as not to hold back this grassroots impulse, but rather create the conditions for them to go.

The Forum of Regions of Russia and Belarus in Minsk was a great success and highly productive, with a significant number of agreements signed. I would like to thank you and President Lukashenko for your warm greetings. Our regions have become close partners in the broadest sense of the word. We have numerous joint projects and shared products, as you know well.

The forum also provided the setting for the Train of Memory event, now in its fifth year. High school students from across the CIS – including Ukraine, Moldova, and all the former Soviet republics, and this year also from the Allied Powers – spent 15 days travelling through Russia and Belarus, visiting sites of military and labour glory.

I can tell you, they return as changed individuals – almost as though they have been inoculated against any form of neo-Nazism. And, most importantly, they come back with a true sense of historical truth. You can read a book or watch a film, but when you see it all with your own eyes, that emotional impact is everything. It is a highly successful project. Thanks are due to Oleg Belozerov and Russian Railways for their active support – for them, too, as they say, it is a project close to the heart.

In the Year of National Unity, we have already convened the Second Forum of Women of the North. Mr President, I assure you, it is women who constitute the backbone in this endeavour – so active, so creative, so enterprising. All indigenous small-numbered peoples were represented. You issued an Executive Order establishing a new holiday – the Day of Indigenous Small-Numbered Peoples – which we celebrated for the first time this year. Following the First Forum, upon the initiative of the Federation Council, we adopted a comprehensive series of laws of great significance for the indigenous small-numbered peoples.

For instance, the professional standard ‘Livestock Breeder’ now encompasses a new profession – ‘Worker of Nomadic Housing’. This decision has conferred official recognition upon the arduous labour of nomadic women and has ensured that they are accorded pension rights on an equal footing with other workers of the Far North. This law was received with great approval by our citizens who lead a nomadic lifestyle. Another long-awaited legislative act – which they themselves raised – is the adoption of the Law on Nomadic Education, among several other measures. It is also heartening to note that several women delivered addresses at the Forum, and a discernible trend has emerged of professionals, doctors, and teachers relocating to the regions of the Far East, to the ‘North’. This trend, without doubt, warrants our active support.

Let me now turn to one of the key instructions you issued – the support for and preservation of folk arts and crafts. As you are well aware, this is the very code of our culture, our traditions, and so forth. The Federation Council, as the chamber of regions, has assumed stewardship of this matter. I wish to express my gratitude to the Ministry of Industry and Trade and, in particular, to Minister Anton Alikhanov for his robust personal support. Above all, comprehensive measures – not merely ad hoc steps – have been devised and implemented to support folk arts and crafts.

Furthermore, by your Executive Order, the Day of Folk Arts and Crafts has been established. This year, on our joint initiative, the Government instituted a national award for masters and enterprises of folk arts and crafts. This year, we presented this award for the first time. For artists and craftsmen, it was indeed a significant event. This represents both legal regulation and financial support. Each year, the Government increases this financial support – this year, it amounts to over 1 billion rubles, which is a meaningful contribution for the masters. There has also been a positive response: as a result of last year, the sector recorded a nine percent growth. Of course, this is by no means the limit. I am confident that these results will continue to grow with each successive year.

We have now reached an agreement with the Government to launch a personnel development programme for the folk arts and crafts sector, with the goal of attracting as many young people as possible, enabling master craftspeople to pass on their skills to the next generation, and ensuring that our traditional crafts not only survive but continue to flourish. Businesses have also stepped in, making investments in recognition of the importance and potential of this sector.

Mr President, as the chamber representing the regions, we continue, jointly with the Ministry of Finance and in close coordination with governors and heads of regional legislatures, to monitor the state of regional budgets.

I would like to thank you for the decision you made to postpone the repayment of budget loans until 2030. It provided the regions with timely and much-needed support. The situation remains under the Ministry of Finance’s control. It is challenging, but there is no cause for alarm, and work is proceeding in a normal, business-like manner.

Our international cooperation has been developing very actively – in fact, it has intensified. This year alone, we have held 77 meetings with our parliamentary counterparts from abroad in various formats. And these contacts extend well beyond the CIS countries, although it is important to note that the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly continues to work very effectively.

Our Interparliamentary Commission with China was highly successful, and the Chairman of the National People’s Congress came to Russia.

We have also maintained active contacts with South Africa, Indonesia, Mozambique, and many other countries. Most recently, the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces of South Africa visited us, and that meeting also proved very productive.

Overall, Mr President, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the attention you devote to the work of the Federation Council – the chamber of the regions – and to the regions as a whole, as well as for the support you consistently provide for the constructive initiatives we try to put forward.

Thank you very much.

Vladimir Putin: Ms Matviyenko, I would like to thank you, all the senators, and the Federation Council as a whole for your active work. The significance of your contribution lies not just in the fact that you approved more than 300 bills, including two constitutional laws, but also in the active role senators play in the legislative process. As you have just noted, they put forward legislative initiatives and draw attention to the fundamental issues that lie at the heart of the country’s life and the key challenges it faces.

Of course, demographics and support for our service personnel on the battlefield, and for their families, are of paramount importance. This is a crucial task for all branches of government. I keep speaking about it, and I expect the Federation Council to play its full part as the upper house representing the interests of the regions while many of our units are formed directly in the military districts, that is, from across the Russian Federation, as well as all government authorities must support our soldiers and their families, and I know they are doing a great deal. Nevertheless, this remains a vast undertaking involving a huge number of people. We must do everything in our power to ensure, first and foremost, that our soldiers have everything they need and that their families feel full support of the state. Just like with any large-scale effort, issues can arise, and people may sometimes encounter instances of perceived injustice. We must respond without delay, working closely with the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation, and pay attention to every detail – being aware that there cannot be small matters in this area.

Turning to the other topics you have raised – they are, of course, utterly important. This includes support for industry, for specific production sectors, and the social issues you mentioned – I will not repeat them – and, naturally, the international dimension. Russia has never isolated itself from anyone and has no intention of doing so. Our engagement with friendly countries and their relevant government bodies remains extremely important.

Finally, on September 20, elections will be held for a number of regional government bodies across the Russian Federation. This will, in turn, have implications for the composition of the Federation Council, which includes representatives from both regional legislatures and executive bodies. I believe this is a very significant process, as our Federation Council is being renewed. I expect that experienced individuals will join the Council, all focused on a shared goal – the development of Russia, providing assistance to our citizens where it is most needed, and achieving our national development objectives.

Thank you very much for this work.

Valentina Matviyenko: Mr President, if I may add a word on the electoral process itself – our political system is structured in such a way that 20 to 30 percent of senators are replaced on the nationwide voting day, and that is a very positive development. It brings in fresh blood, new people with new perspectives, directly from the regions. We are monitoring this process very carefully to ensure that the regional representatives are worthy of the trust placed in them.

Vladimir Putin: I hope so. I am confident of that.

Valentina Matviyenko: Thank you.

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Telephone conversation with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev

2026-07-28T11:33:38+04:00

President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

The leaders discussed bilateral and international matters, noting the constructive nature of Russia-Azerbaijan relations as well as the intensification of dialogue between the governments and relevant agencies of the two countries. In addition, they reaffirmed their commitment to further expanding mutually beneficial cooperation.

Meeting with faction leaders

2026-07-27T22:03:11+04:00

Vladimir Putin held a meeting with the leaders of the 8th State Duma factions at the Kremlin.

The meeting was attended by Vladimir Vasilyev, leader of the United Russia faction in the State Duma, as well as Gennady Zyuganov (Communist Party faction), Sergei Mironov (A Just Russia faction), Leonid Slutsky (Liberal Democratic Party of Russia faction), and Alexei Nechayev (New People faction).

Earlier, the President held separate meetings with each of the faction leaders.

The authorised personnel strength of the Russian Armed Forces has been increased

2026-07-28T14:02:50+04:00

The President signed the Executive Order On Amendments to Presidential Executive Order No. 1082 of August 16, 2004, Regulations on the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, and Presidential Executive Order No. 419 of June 12, 2026, On Establishing the Authorised Personnel Strength of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

Under the Executive Order the authorised personnel strength of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation was established at 2,426,130 units, including 1,535,000 servicemen.

The fundamentals of state policy on cadet education are approved

2026-07-28T14:04:46+04:00

The President signed the Executive Order On the Fundamentals of State Policy of the Russian Federation in Cadet Education.

The 430th Motorised Rifle Regiment awarded honorary Guards designation

2026-07-28T14:09:16+04:00

The President signed Executive Order On Awarding an Honorary Designation to the 430^th Motorised Rifle Regiment.

For mass heroism and bravery, fortitude and courage displayed by the regiment personnel during combat operations to defend the Fatherland and state interests in armed conflicts, the President resolved to award the honorary Guards designation to the 430^th Motorised Rifle Regiment which shall henceforth be referred to as the 430^th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment.

Congratulations to Pavel Graudyn, winner of the 2026 World Fencing Championships in Hong Kong in the sabre competition

2026-07-28T17:33:05+04:00

Vladimir Putin extended his congratulations to Pavel Graudyn, winner of the sabre competition at the 2026 World Fencing Championships in Hong Kong, China.

The message reads, in part:

“Congratulations on your triumph at the 2026 World Fencing Championships.

I commend the exceptional skill and winning spirit you demonstrated throughout the competition. And, of course, I would like to highlight your composure, strength of character, and confidence in your abilities in the decisive bout against the Olympic champion from the Republic of Korea.

I am confident that your gold medal in Hong Kong will make a worthy contribution to the advancement of Russian fencing and inspire you to achieve even greater success.”

The 104th Kaluzhskaya Control Brigade awarded honorary Guards designation

2026-07-28T14:06:44+04:00

The President signed Executive Order On Awarding an Honorary Designation to the 104^th Kaluzhskaya Orders of Suvorov, Kutuzov and Alexander Nevsky Control Brigade.

For mass heroism and bravery, fortitude and courage displayed by the brigade personnel during combat operations to defend the Fatherland and state interests in armed conflicts, the President resolved to award the honorary Guards designation to the 104^th Kaluzhskaya Orders of Suvorov, Kutuzov and Alexander Nevsky Control Brigade which shall henceforth be referred to as the 104^th Guards Kaluzhskaya Orders of Suvorov, Kutuzov and Alexander Nevsky Control Brigade.

Telephone conversation with Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan

2026-07-27T19:08:57+04:00

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan at the initiative of the Armenian side.

Vladimir Putin reaffirmed his commitment to the Joint Statement by the leaders of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia adopted at the Eurasian Economic Union summit in Astana on May 29 regarding the Republic of Armenia's efforts aimed at joining the European Union. It was notably emphasised that Armenia needed to promptly hold a national referendum on whether the country should join the EU or remain in the EAEU.

Meeting with deputies of the 8th State Duma

2026-07-27T20:46:02+04:00

In St George’s Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace, Vladimir Putin held a meeting with deputies of the 8^th State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. The President summed up the results of the large-scale legislative work performed by the deputy corps over the past five years and presented state wards to the parliamentarians.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues, friends.

This meeting marks the completion of the eighth State Duma’s term.

The past five years, which incidentally were the period of your tenure, were difficult and extremely challenging for our country. It is, without any exaggeration, one of the decisive stages in our Fatherland’s history, when the very fate, the future of our people is at stake, — and it really is not an exaggeration, — and when the contours of a new world order are being shaped in a struggle and intense competition.

I would like to thank you for efficient cooperation, above all in strengthening Russia's sovereignty and protecting the country’s national interests.

Today, we continue to protect the security and independence of the state, the truth and justice. Participants in the special military operation are fighting heroically for Russia and their ancestral home. Our entire nation and society support them. We will achieve our goals and do everything for victory and for Russia.

(Applause.)

Multi-ethnic and diverse, our nation stood up to these historical challenges and the aggressive external pressure by consolidating from within. We have always followed this path and this is what we are witnessing today. The State Duma deputies have fully lived up to their high status of people’s representatives, demonstrating unconditional loyalty to the Motherland, consummate professionalism, and firmness. They worked quickly and efficiently to discuss and make difficult decisions, adopt laws required by our soldiers and commanders, defence companies, factories, Russia’s economy and social sphere, and, naturally, the entire society and state.

Faced with this challenging environment, you were professional and confident when working with our colleagues from the Federation Council and the Government, the Presidential Executive Office, and from the regions of the Russian Federation.

All members of the State Duma and all its parliamentary groups made a meaningful contribution to these efforts, including the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, A Just Russia, the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, the New People party and of course United Russia, the majority party. As a ruling party, it bears special responsibility for the legislative process and its smooth, regular and constructive operation in a consolidating spirit.

In this connection, I would like to place a special emphasis on the ability of various political forces to work as a single team. In fact, two thirds of the almost three thousand pieces of legislation you adopted over these years were supported by all parliamentary groups.

A comprehensive social safety net has been established and is now being developed further for special military operation participants and veterans as well as their families.

Members of parliament formed a single front when adopting laws on Russia’s reunification with our four historical regions: Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics as well as the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions. They became constituent entities of the Russian Federation in their own right as part of a single country where they belong.

The actual aspirations and will of the people, citizens of Russia, guide us in our strategic decisions. This is our only objective, and this is what those who deny their people their right to self-determination and tracing their own path hate so much. They start referring to the UN Charter whenever this serves their interests. Today, they opted for skipping its first article on the right of nations to self-determination. Those who are used to treating other countries as obedient and voiceless subordinates rather than equal partners always stand to benefit from these double standards. But we can see through all these developments.

We have long been facing illegal restrictions, pressure, and attempts to contain us: it happened after the Crimean Spring of 2014, but it also happened earlier. However, in 2022, the West kicked the Russophobia machine into high gear – and it keeps setting world records in two categories: the number of the so-called sanctions, their inefficiency, and the damage that these sanctions are causing primarily to the people who designed and initiated them in the first place, as well as the people of some European countries and even beyond.

Wishing to shake up the Russian state and split people apart in our country, they attempted to strangle our economy, the financial and banking system, and to undermine our capabilities in research and manufacturing, and education. Moreover, unable to defeat Russia on the battlefield, they are staking on flagrantly terrorist methods of fighting against our people. But the people of Russia will never bend to anyone’s will. It has never happened and it will never happen.

(Applause.)

Our political system and institutions of power stand on the principles of sovereignty and in full compliance with the Constitution of the Russian Federation. They are ready to defend our country and, together with our society, are capable of decisively resisting any hostile actions.

Colleagues, I would like to thank you for promptly adopting effective anti-sanction measures, for prioritising the state’s social obligations to our people, for paying special attention to demographic issues and supporting families with children, for focusing on developing healthcare, education, culture, and the patriotic upbringing of new generations based on the traditions, spiritual and moral values.

As challenging as it is sometimes – we are indeed going through a difficult period – we have not forgotten throughout these years to address matters dealing with the wellbeing of our citizens.

Members of parliament have traditionally been making a proactive and meaningful contribution to shaping Russia’s budget policy. I am confident that, when working on the budget for the next three years, alongside strengthening the country’s defence, you will prioritise urgent social tasks and also support the key sectors of the economy, the leading Russian companies, small and medium-sized businesses, as well as the labour market, where the unemployment rate, as you know, has dropped to a historic low.

At the same time, we are not only adapting to new conditions and confidently overcoming the artificial external barriers that are imposed on us. We have been working together to set forth major and ambitious, forward-looking goals to boost our people’s wellbeing, offer everyone more opportunities for fulfilling their potential, while also seeking to alleviate poverty, of course. Here, we have something to be proud of: there has been positive momentum, we are setting technological leadership tasks and, oddly enough, despite all the external restrictions, achieving the result we seek. We will keep working on all these matters.

During your tenure, a number of key legislative acts have been adopted, laying solid legal foundations for the future. Since last year, updated national projects and development programmes have been rolled out. Parliament is working closely with the Government of the Russian Federation to ensure these are properly supported in legislative terms.

This partnership has reached a new level. The unified system of public authority has strengthened, and accountability to the people has grown stronger. This has been further enabled by the State Duma’s new constitutional powers to approve the candidates for Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers, and federal ministers. I can see that these mechanisms are functioning effectively and are contributing to the development of our statehood and the strengthening of Russia’s sovereign institutions.

Colleagues,

Elections to the ninth State Duma will take place in September. Many of you will be standing for re-election, and you will be meeting with constituents and with employees at enterprises across the country.

I would ask you to make the most of this pre-election period – to gather proposals and feedback from the public in a focused and productive manner, and then to translate those into practical parliamentary work. The foundation of that work lies precisely there, in the constituencies, in the strong feedback loop between the authorities and Russia’s broad, diverse and distinctive society. Its voice must be heard, and its concerns must always be addressed.

I am confident that the parliamentary parties will conduct the election campaign with due respect for our voters and, of course, for one another. Political culture has clearly matured and improved over recent years, including during your time in this chamber. I trust that this will be put to good use in the months ahead.

I also trust that all of you will continue to value the consolidation of the leading political forces that we see today. That unity is the key to continuity in our shared efforts to achieve the country’s national development goals.

I wish you every success.

Thank you very much.

(Applause.)

* * *

Ceremony to present state decorations.

Vladimir Putin: I would like Mr Volodin to speak, as he is the recipient of the respective state decoration.

State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin: Mr President,

Thank you very much for your high appreciation of the work of the State Duma and its deputies.

Over the past five years, the State Duma has passed 2,980 laws. More importantly, however, we have become a truly united team, fully aware of our responsibility to the country and its citizens. I would like to thank you for this, because we constantly feel the President’s support. The ongoing dialogue with the leaders of the parliamentary factions and with the State Duma as a whole has been invaluable. Your support has enabled us to accomplish a great deal.

It would also be fair to say that you have consistently done everything possible to promote the development of parliamentary democracy. This month marks the 25th anniversary of the law on political parties, which was adopted at your initiative. You chose the path of building a competitive multi-party system, and today we can already judge how effective that decision has been. We live in a free and open country with a political system that has proven its effectiveness in responding to challenges and demonstrated its resilience.

In 2016, you made the decision to entrust the leadership of several key parliamentary committees to representatives of the opposition factions. At first, even those of us in the majority had our doubts. We thought: if United Russia holds the parliamentary majority, why should opposition parties chair these committees? But time has proved that it was absolutely the right decision. We began to listen to one another more closely, and the opposition factions were given the opportunity to engage fully in legislative work, immersing themselves in it on an equal footing with representatives of the parliamentary majority. In the end, it fostered a shared sense of responsibility, and that united us. This proved especially important during this difficult period.

Your decision to delegate certain powers to the people by enabling them, through their elected representatives, to approve the composition of the Government has once again demonstrated how right that decision was. Previously, whenever problems arose or difficult decisions had to be made, we would often point the finger at the Government, saying, “It’s not us – they are the ones who are ineffective.” Following the constitutional amendments, however, Parliament now shares responsibility with the Government for the final outcome. This has enabled us not only to listen to one another more closely but also to make better decisions. As a result, 68.5 percent of the laws passed by the State Duma received the support of all parliamentary parties.

Mr President, thank you very much. I would like to emphasise once again that Parliament is united around the national development agenda and the President’s course. Together, we will prevail.

Thank you.

Chair of the State Duma Committee for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic Nikolai Kharitonov: Mr President,

Colleagues,

As the elder statesman, or one of the eldest – there are three veteran parliamentarians in this room – we, together with the Presidential Executive Office, the Federation Council, and the Government, have been addressing the issues facing our country throughout this convocation. I think that we have made much headway. However, the main assessment in this regard is that of our voters and our population. There are many challenges ahead and we must deal with them collectively and in a concerted manner.

On behalf of all the deputies of this convocation, Mr President, I would like to wish you good health and a good mood. We are together and will certainly win.

Head of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation political party’s parliamentary group in the State Duma Gennady Zyuganov: Mr President,

Comrade deputies and friends,

The eighth convocation of the State Duma was working under extreme conditions, where NATO and Anglo-Saxons have declared a war of extermination on the Russian World; a war has been declared on a 1,000-year-old civilisation that defended the much-vaunted Europe from invasions and full annihilation on three occasions. I am referring to Batu Khan, Napoleon, and Hitler. Not only did we stand our ground, we also showed the main thing that ensures victory – cohesion.

Mr President, we were primarily guided by the main tenet of your Address on ensuring the unity of action by all citizens in this country, by all parliamentary groups. It is not accidental, therefore, that we have unanimously passed 183 laws in support of those who are fighting courageously and valiantly on the battlefields. We had to reach the world rates and we have attained almost 5 percent, something that any Government can be proud of. We also had to do all we could to encourage the mastering of advanced new technologies. You have yourself shown an example of how this idea can be put into practice by supporting electronics, robotics, aviation, and the entire engineering industry.

Of late, however, the key rate that has been blown out of proportion and the taxes have made small and medium-sized businesses slow down and the economy in general lose momentum. We will do our best to conduct the dialogue that is needed during the upcoming election campaign. It should be constructive and maximally aimed at implementing your Address.

We have suggested a programme of victory and a development-geared budget, which can gain 10 trillion [rubles] more as early as next year. Our party’s 5,500 candidates are actively working with the population, and we hope for a significant support and promotion, and the implementation of your Address.

A victory is essential for all of us, and we will certainly win it. Let us wish success to our Supreme Commander-in-Chief and President, and clearly declare that we all will fight for this historic victory, without which both our people and the planet as a whole have no future.

Thank you. I wish you success.

Head of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia’s parliamentary group in the State Duma – Chair of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs Leonid Slutsky: Mr President,

Mr Volodin,

Colleagues,

We must admit that for five years we have been working in difficult conditions, yet it was not a period of sagging, as Mr Zyuganov said, but a period of consolidation and growth amid unprecedented sanctions pressure. When the country and the Russian world faced a moment of truth in our modern history, we stood shoulder to shoulder, regardless of our party affiliations, age, religion and place of residence. We rallied around you, Mr President, on the path to an impending victory in what I see as the last battle against Nazism in human history.

Colleagues, I should say that I feel that this gratitude from our President, the national leader of our Fatherland is meant not only for me but for our party as a whole, which has been moving all these years along the path set out by Zhirinovsky, the path of being reliable for every single person and household and facilitating an early solution. And that is precisely where our opposition stands today. It is not in pointing the finger at the “fifth column” but in moving shoulder to shoulder towards quickly and effectively fulfilling the tasks and solving the problems that people pose for us in these difficult times.

It should be said that there are many problems, but they are being effectively addressed because we are united and we are finding the right solution.

I would like to express deep gratitude to Vyacheslav Volodin, who has organised the work of the State Duma extremely efficiently at this difficult time, rallying us towards accomplishing the tasks you have set for us. Today, we will carry on many of these tasks into the next, ninth convocation of the State Duma, and we will work as our great leader, Zhirinovsky, taught us, that is, even more cohesively and efficiently for the benefit of the people who set out these tasks for us.

In conclusion, I would like to say a few words about parliamentary diplomacy. A new global majority has emerged in the world today. Our parliamentary diplomacy, or rather parliamentary democracy, as Mr Volodin put it, has become an instrument of consolidating the world’s nations around the ideas and principles which you, Mr President, outlined many times when speaking at various platforms, including in the past few years, so that every country, no matter how small, every nation and every free individual set their development course based on the interests of the people and their traditions, history, culture, religion and language, rather than on the opinion of someone in Washington.

Mr President, ahead of the feast day of your heavenly patron, Holy Prince Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles, I would like to wish you and all of us every success, the best of luck, and a swift victory.

Thank you.

Head of the A Just Russia socialist political party’s parliamentary group in the State Duma Sergei Mironov: Mr President,

Colleagues,

Thank you for this acknowledgement and recognition of my work. Thank you for presenting state decorations to my colleagues Alexander Babakov, Valery Gartung and Sergei Kabyshev. I think that this is the proper assessment of our joint work.

At the beginning of the eighth convocation, you wished to have as many laws drafted and supported by various parliamentary groups. As of today’s report by Mr Volodin, this is the case for every fourth law. I have no doubt that during its ninth convocation, the State Duma will achieve an even greater level of cohesion in its efforts.

Mr President,

I would like to thank you for everything you have been doing for Russia. We are pursuing the right cause, and victory will be ours!

Head of the New People party’s State Duma parliamentary group Alexei Nechayev: Mr President,

Colleagues.

Thank you for the recognition of our work. It is a great honour and an immense responsibility for us. I know that we have done a great deal, but we will have to do even more for securing Russia’s victory in the special military operation, and I am convinced that we will definitely achieve it.

I serve Russia.

Head of the United Russia National Political Party’s parliamentary group in the State Duma Vladimir Vasilyev: Mr President,

Friends,

Colleagues,

Comrades and fellow parliamentarians,

We heard so many important words which mark a very important event. Each of us is overwhelmed with emotion. I will try to express this feeling as briefly as I can.

I suggest that we wish every success to our President who brought us all together.

For Putin! For Victory! For Russia!

Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much.

Allow me to say just a few words to round up our ceremony and today’s meeting.

All of us are deeply engaged and immersed in the developments we are witnessing today. We all work on them in our own specific domains, while overall we all have a shared understanding of what is happening in the country and across the world, where Russia stands at this historical juncture. In fact, it has been advancing with dignity.

Of course, this is not the right time or place to have a debate, but still, I would like to say a few things. Over the past, say, three or four years, Russia, unlike other developed economies, has retained the fourth position in the world by purchasing power parity after China, the United States and India, and ranks first in Europe by this indicator. We have been demonstrating higher economic growth rates compared to the European Union too. Of course, we would like to achieve even better performance. There are risks, however, of higher inflation and the corresponding consequences. The current policy course offers several major advantages. What is its main strong point? The fact that the Russian economic and financial systems are sustainable. Sustainability is what matters the most since it enables us to develop manufacturing in general, including the defence sectors while also addressing social matters.

Let me share a secret with you, but I hope that our colleague will not hold it against me. During the presentation of state decorations, one of the recipients whispered the following words into my ear: “We will win. But we must be bolder. Cannot wait for this to happen.” This begs a question of whether we can be even bolder. Here, just as with the economy, there are risks which could result in more casualties for us on the battlefield. Therefore, we will exercise caution in these efforts too, while remaining assertive and consistent in seeking to achieve the objectives the country has. We will achieve them.

Finally, this is what I wanted to say to conclude my remarks. This may be a challenging and defining historical stage for Russia. This is quite obvious and members of the State Duma, the Government of Russia, the Presidential Executive Office and heads of the regions are not the only ones who understand this today. Every citizen of the Russian Federation understands this.

We are in this combat stage, and members of parliament represent their voters, which means that they represent the people of Russia. This is what it means for a government institution to be representative. Looking back at your performance, I would like to say that members of parliament can feel pride for what you achieved since you form a force that fights for our people.

Thank you for your work and I wish you all the best. Thank you.

Trip to St Petersburg. Navy Day

2026-07-27T20:50:37+04:00

Vladimir Putin arrived in St Petersburg on Navy Day.

The Supreme Commander-in-Chief held a videoconference to hear reports by commanders of the Pacific, Northern, Baltic and Black Sea fleets and the Caspian Flotilla on the operational environment and their performance.

After that, there was a ceremony to present state decorations of the Russian Federation to Navy personnel. The President also held a separate meeting with Navy personnel.

Meeting with Navy personnel

2026-07-27T18:50:43+04:00

The Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation held a meeting with Navy personnel.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Comrades, good afternoon.

I met with many of you earlier today. Once again, I extend my warmest greetings to you on this wonderful holiday – Navy Day. I have already spoken about how important and popular Navy Day is in Russia, among our citizens, and how respected naval personnel are, meaning both sailors in general and military sailors in particular. The sea is inherently associated with risk, and military sailors have to face double or triple that risk.

A distinct culture has developed within the naval circles, one that has been evolving for centuries, since the time of Peter the Great. This is because service in the Navy calls for a very particular set of skills and knowledge. Clearly, modern living conditions inevitably shape everyday life and behaviour – that much is obvious. Nevertheless, everyone in Russia understands that sailors are, after all, a special family, a special caste in the best sense of the word.

So from the bottom of my heart, I once again offer my greetings to you on Navy Day. I wish you and your loved ones all the very best – and, of course, your comrades in arms. Let me also honour those now at their combat posts. My warmest wishes go to them as well.

After the awards ceremony, I began touching on certain issues with some of my comrades. If there is anything you would like to share with me, to ask me, to request of me, or to say to me, I would be delighted. Please, feel free to ask any questions.

I understand that everyone here is a military man and used to standing, but we are having a family conversation, so let’s sit down.

Please.

Commander of the 36th Division of Surface Forces of the Primorye All-Arms Flotilla of the Pacific Fleet, Captain 1st Rank Alexei Ulyanenko: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief.

Captain 1st Rank Ulyanenko, Pacific Fleet.

Of course, the main task for the Navy, the Defence Ministry and the entire country now is to achieve the goals of the special military operation. As sailors, we perform other tasks as well. For example, the ships of the 36th Surface Division often handle missions across the world’s oceans and participate in international drills. The scope of these international drills grows every year. It is crucial for us to hear your assessment of the military sailors’ operation in the context of national security.

Vladimir Putin: I would like to point out some aspects.

First, you mentioned international exercises. Their scope indicates that attempts to isolate Russia even in such a sensitive area as defence and security are going up in smoke. There are a great number of countries that feel friendly towards Russia and understand the tasks we are handling to ensure our security and strengthen the multipolar world. It is important for the overwhelming majority of participants in international activity. The growing scope of joint drills speaks volumes.

As for the importance of the Russian Navy, it never fades. Since the founding of the Russian Navy, it has held great significance for the security of the Russian state. Russia is a continental power above all else. It looks like one at first glance. Even after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, we remain the world's largest country by territory. But 60 percent of Russia’s borders with other countries run through water, seas and oceans. Therefore, even objectively, the significance of the Russian Navy is a constant and a very important one.

Furthermore, the Navy plays an enormous role in the nuclear triad, but that is an obvious statement for me to make in front of you, the military personnel and the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy. It would probably be excessive to speak about the importance of the submarine fleet as well. This fleet is equipped with intercontinental ballistic missiles to deter any enemy and to inflict unacceptable damage to it in the event of direct aggression against the Russian Federation or threats to Russia’s sovereignty.

Therefore, the Navy has long been and remains essential to national security. In addition to that, there are other aspects that are not directly related to the art of war. Many achievements in military shipbuilding are used for civilian purposes – not only in shipbuilding but also in electronics and many other industries. As for the significance of the Navy, there is no doubt that we will do all we can to strengthen the naval component of the Russian power.

Yes, right now, we have to justifiably direct many resources towards success in the special military operation. However, we have further plans to develop the fleet and both our far and near maritime zones. These plans will certainly be achieved. When 60 percent of our borders are maritime borders, how can this be any other way?

Please.

Commander of the Electromechanical Warfare Unit 266 of the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Crew of the 24th Submarine Division of the Northern Fleet’s Submarine Forces Captain 2nd Rank Nikolai Khartsiy: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief!

Captain 2nd Rank, Northern Fleet.

While carrying out combat missions, one cannot help but notice how the World Ocean is turning into an arena of interstate rivalry and confrontation. Until recently, the Arctic was seen as a region of peaceful, close cooperation with Russia, but now it is increasingly characterised by a growing potential for conflict with us. At the same time, the main feature of Western policy is a pronounced course towards militarisation and rivalry with a clearly anti-Russia bias. What must we do in these circumstances?

Vladimir Putin: You know, we feel very calm and confident, because international law is on our side, and we have ample means to defend our interests. Yes, at some point, much was lost.

Mr Patrushev, you were the director of the FSB and took the necessary steps at that time to strengthen the state border. Where did you station border guards?

Presidential Aide Nikolai Patrushev: Franz Josef Land and Alexandra Land.

Vladimir Putin: Yes, Franz Josef Land. These are Russian islands. By the time we began to re-establish our presence there, foreign tourist routes had already been set up. And when guides were explaining these territories to tourists, they would say anything except that they belonged to the Russian Federation. Everyone was beginning to get used to the idea that Russia wasn’t there. But it is ours, and we do have a presence there. We established border posts there and began to re-establish our presence accordingly.

And when I said that international law is entirely on our side, that means this is a legitimate part of sovereign Russian territory. We are developing economic activity there. We need to act extremely carefully to protect our economic interests there, as you know. The Arctic’s environment is extremely fragile, so it is essential to use the latest technologies – which is exactly what our companies are doing to extract resources. That is the first point.

Second, the logistics capabilities of the Northern Sea Route. Exploiting these requires developing ports and coastal logistics, and maintaining the operation of ship and crew rescue services in distress. That is achieved by Navy-ensured security. We address and we will continue to address these matters.

We have never sought any sort of confrontation in this region. On the contrary, we have always invited everybody interested to cooperate in solidarity and in line with international law. We are willing to cooperate with everybody provided that – and this goes without saying – these routes belong to the Russian Federation. We have the technical capabilities for that. As you know, no other country in the world has an icebreaker fleet like ours. I believe nobody else has nuclear-powered icebreakers. But we do. Starting with Lenin, we are now building a Leader-class icebreaker that will be able to break metres-thick ice, which is unprecedented. Andrei, do you remember exactly, is it three metres?

Defence Minister Andrei Belousov: More. Four or five.

Vladimir Putin: Four metres, correct?

Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Alexander Moiseyev: Ice in the Arctic?

Vladimir Putin: No. The Leader will be able to break it.

Alexander Moiseyev: Up to three metres.

Vladimir Putin: Yes, just over three metres. Nobody else in the world can do the same. If anybody claims they are planning to build something like that – and some advanced countries are probably capable of that – it will take years, maybe decades. God bless them, we don’t mind them working.

We are open to cooperation in this area, but we will certainly protect our interests – just as we do with the Northern Sea Route, because the most efficient and economically viable route runs largely through our territorial waters or the Russian Federation’s exclusive economic zone. That is to say, it is practically entirely under our control – not practically, but entirely. The closer to shore, the more efficient and safer it is. Further out, there are neutral waters, where navigation is more difficult, if not impossible. Mr Moiseyev knows – only submarines can “crawl” under the ice, and you probably know that too. But for merchant shipping and tankers, that is not yet possible.

What is the current timeframe – roughly five months without escort?

Alexander Moiseyev: From June to early October.

Vladimir Putin: From June to early October. The most favourable period is mid-August. And icebreakers are still needed.

You and I also know that ballistic missile routes pass through the Northern Sea Route, where our submarines are based, and other countries are also trying to gain access. We have a developed region, and we will continue to develop it – which is very important from an economic perspective.

We all know well what Lomonosov said about Russia’s wealth growing through Siberia. Now, it is no exaggeration to say that Russia’s wealth will grow through the Arctic. It is difficult even to measure it now, and it is difficult to put a monetary value on the resources with which the Arctic is so richly endowed.

We have already developed an entire programme, and we will continue to do so: creating conditions for people to live and work there. This includes improvements and creating good conditions in key Arctic cities. A great deal of work lies ahead. And, of course, the presence of our Armed Forces there – threatening no one, but ensuring the interests of the Fatherland – is a very important component of all our work in the Arctic.

Thank you. Good luck.

Please.

Captain 3^rd rank Mikhail Kislov: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

Captain 3^rd rank Mikhail Kislov, Black Sea Fleet.

Unmanned crafts operating in different environments have become central to present-day warfare. Experts believe that the future of naval warfare lies with the so-called mosquito fleet while large vessels will allegedly have no place in it. Is this true?

Vladimir Putin: It is a claim made by those operating mosquito fleets and earning or planning to earn from it. It is either that or they wish to boost their self-esteem by working in this extremely important field.

First of all, what is a mosquito fleet? I believe there is no set definition.

We are in St Petersburg. The Russian Navy fought against Sweden in the Gulf of Finland. Does anybody remember when the Battle of Gangut took place? I believe it also happened here.

Remark: 1717.

Vladimir Putin: 1717? Perhaps. By the way, after that battle, Peter the Great lived on board the ships for two years. Russia did not have any large vessels at the time. Russian ships were rather small compared to Swedish ones.

What did Peter and fleet commanders do? They successfully moved small ships from one combat area to another which paved the way for their success. The fleet started to develop further on, with small boats, ships, and so on.

Look at what is happening in the Middle Eastern conflict zone. Those operating a mosquito fleet are doing that rather effectively.

Mosquito fleets have always existed. The only new thing is technology. We have had, for quite some time, small-tonnage vessels equipped with modern weapons. Kalibrs can be launched to carry out precision strikes from small boats and ships – and they can be launched from even smaller ones. There are new weapons for equipping these ships and boats, and we have the technology too. Take Poseidon that we have mentioned many times before. It is essentially an unmanned submersible, in its final development phase. We are close to completing it and making it operational. We have the technology but it needs to be improved and adjusted to specific water regions and specific combat situations.

This is a matter of understanding what is going on and responding in a timely manner. This has happened many times over the course of history: there were times when we succeeded in these efforts, but not always. However, let me stress that we always ended up understanding what had to be done and acted to the best of our ability.

This is precisely the case today. We are developing both subsurface and surface unmanned vessels, which are proving highly effective, including in the combat zone. I say this in all confidence – with absolute confidence. We will, of course, continue developing this segment.

Once again, this can offer a highly effective means of military confrontation, particularly within the near maritime zone, especially in the context of upgrading the strike capabilities which can be installed on these vessels and boats. However, as regards large ships, they remain the fundamental element of the fleet. This is not to mention nuclear-powered submarines which carry formidable missile systems with intercontinental range – as well as surface ships, frigates, cruisers, and other classes.

The crucial point is that such vessels, including aircraft carrier strike groups, must be reliably protected. They must possess modern means for detecting and confronting the adversary.

Our naval commanders, who built the Russian fleet in earlier eras, would always say that the fleet must be balanced. And today, more than ever, it must be balanced. We must determine which assets are most effective in which zone.

As for large ships – both the submarine fleet and large surface ships – there is not merely a place for them; they will, without doubt, remain the foundation for the development of the fleet as a whole. This is especially true now that these large ships acquire new strike and defence capabilities. The Zircon missile is a case in point. This is still work in progress, in terms of precision. Yet the most recent deployment demonstrateв that it is becoming increasingly precise. As for the hypersonic missile – few countries in the world possess such a weapon. Moreover, we not only possess it – we are perfecting it and will continue to do so. The fleet must be balanced. And so it shall be.

Thank you.

Please, go ahead.

Senior Gun-Layer of Multiple-Launch Rocket System Platoon of the 177^th Detached Guards Marine Regiment of the Caspian Flotilla, Guards Senior Sailor Vitaly Suchkov: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

I am Guards Senior Sailor Suchkov from the Caspian Flotilla.

It is a great honour to meet with you here today on Navy Day. I was mobilised into the army and until recently would have never believed that I would get an opportunity to meet with you.

I would like to ask the following question: Everyone in this country knows that you have an overwhelmingly packed work schedule; nevertheless, you have found time to meet with us, ordinary lads, with fighters and members of our families. Tell me, please, what do these meetings mean to you personally?

Vladimir Putin: The answer is quite straightforward. First, I have meetings with people who excel on the battlefield not only when celebrating something, but also as part of what could seem as my daily routine.

For me, the primary purpose of these meetings consists of demonstrating and emphasising the significance of the cause that you serve. This is what matters the most. This is my first point.

My second objective is to listen to you. I do realise that there are certain restrictions, service members are very reserved, and sometimes they will not say much. Nevertheless, these conversations can help me learn more about what is happening along the line of contact, whether something is in short supply, in terms of the performance of the armed forces, what equipment is lacking, and what the users of such equipment think about its quality. This amounts to serious feedback.

Third, this is also a matter of raising social issues. I am telling you frankly that, of course, I and many people working with me, including the Defence Minister, the Chief of the General Staff, the troops commander, of course – we always think about addressing social issues. It may be counterintuitive, but we keep stumbling upon various omissions and shortcomings when something is lacking or has been overlooked. This is not happening because someone does not want to do something. There is so much complexity and variability in our lives, and it is not uncommon for decision-makers not to notice something, while people at the grassroots level have to live by these decisions.

This third component consists of working on social matters dealing with special military operation participants, helping the victims and the wounded fighters, their families, including families of soldiers killed in action. When I meet with them, there is always a new issue that comes up. I can have an impression that everything has been said but no, there is always something else. This is very useful and important both for those who are affected by these decisions and for the entire country.

This is because the country must realise today and in the future that the state will pay utmost attention to people who risk their lives and health, while defending state interests, and it will treat their interests and your interests with great care and diligence.

Therefore, considering all these considerations, I believe that meetings like this one as well as those not linked to any festive occasions, do matter, and make no mistake, I will continue holding them.

Thank you.

Senior Guards Sergeant Timur Naumov, Northern Fleet: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Federation.

Senior Guards Sergeant Timur Naumov, Northern Fleet.

The naval infantry has been on the forefront since the very start of the special military operation. We have seen it all and there is little that can surprise us. However, the atrocious way in which the adversary has been treating civilians is something completely mind-boggling. In fact, they keep harassing people who are Ukrainian nationals. Where did the soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, especially their nationalist units, learn this cruel attitude? After all, they have not changed their battlefield tactics and continue using civilians, the people of Ukraine, as live shields. How can it be, considering that there was a time when we used the same textbooks and watched the same movies and admired the same heroic characters?

Vladimir Putin: You want to know why this is happening? To be honest, I have been thinking about this too.

First, let me tell you that the naval infantry is always at the forefront. This year alone, I think that naval infantry fighters liberated over 20 communities. Some of these units were established long ago by Peter the Great back in 1705, if I remember these dates correctly. This is when the first naval infantry regiments were formed. The naval infantry are elite troops within our Armed Forces as well as within the Navy. By the way, the naval infantry also played a major role in the Battle of Gangut when they boarded the Swedish ships, etc. I may not be exactly spot on, but I think this is how it went.

What is worth stressing in this context is that the naval infantry has a very important role within the Armed Forces in general and has been very effective across all theatres no matter where it has been deployed. This is how things stand.

I had a reason to say that the naval infantry is always at the forefront. Therefore, you are the first to discover what is happening or happened in the liberated communities when entering them. The question is about why this is happening. Is Russia’s aggression to blame, I mean the so-called aggression? Of course, not. There was no aggression to begin with.

As I have said many times, and I would like to make this point once again, we did not start any wars. All we did was respond to the military action and the war unleashed by the Kiev regime with Western support against what was then Ukraine’s southeast, a region which has always sought to forge closer ties with Russia.

You know that there has been a line separating Ukraine in what was called its left-bank side and its right-bank side throughout its entire history. The left-bank side was not only viewed as being closer to Russia but was actually part of Russia. Take Donbass, which I have also mentioned… I read documents from the archives on the decision by the Soviet government to include Donbass in the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic at the request of its representatives, but after that Vladimir Lenin received Bolsheviks from the western regions and they convinced him to designate these territories as being part of Ukraine which was about to be created. Here is how Lenin responded when Donbass representatives asked him: “How can it be, since we had an agreement that Donbass would be with Mother Russia? After all, this was a done deal.” But Lenin said: “We will have to change it.” And change the decision they did. It is now up to you and up to us to get back on a normal course of history.

This being said, I can now answer your question. What happened, to use one example, after the Great Patriotic War? After the Great Patriotic War, some of those who fought for Nazi Germany moved overseas. The so-called anti-Russian centres – at the time they were targeting the USSR, were proactive in relying on those who sided with the Nazis during the war and later their successors and descendants. How could it be since these people had sided with the Nazis during the war?

It can be said that these people were guided by their nationalist aspirations, and focused on the interests of Ukraine and its people. But what were their founding principles? They stemmed from Nazi ideology. It is not a coincidence that they have been publicly seeking to revive the Nazi ideology today. They have been conferring the UPA designation, which stands for the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, on military units for their excellence, and reburying Nazi criminals.

I have heard many times that Ukraine is searching for a new identity. This begs a question on why Nazism and neo-Nazism must form the foundation for this new identity? This brings me to my main point. This kind of neo-Nazism moved to these so-called anti-Russia, anti-Soviet centres. This brought nationalism and neo-Nazism very close together to make them intertwined. When the current regime started relying on this segment of the society and this ideology, those who are fighting for it automatically adopted this vision. This regime is actually based on neo-Nazi ideology and extreme nationalism. Nationalism is not about focusing on one’s own agenda. It is mostly about countering others. Being a patriot means placing your motherland above everything else rather than opposing or confronting others, while being a nationalist comes down to confronting others as a means of asserting one’s interests. The Kiev regime has built its present-day ideology based on the extreme brand of nationalism and neo-Nazism.

Therefore, there is nothing surprising here. It is not that I am disclosing any secrets, since I have already discussed this before… In the early days of the special military operation, I read a battlefield report about an intercepted message. Our men intercepted a conversation between two Ukrainian tank crew members when their tank column was entering a community in the Donbass.

Here is what I read in the report. A man wearing a sports outfit appeared from a residential building. He simply left the building. One of the tank crew members instantly shot him with his machinegun. The second member of the tank crew asked him: “What have you done? Why did you do that?” Here is what the first fighter, the one who killed the man, said: “They are all criminals here, they are all ruffians, and they side with Moscow and Russia – there is no point in sparing them.” The man did not do anything, he just left his home to see what was going on. They killed him and kept rolling. This is what forms the core of this extreme brand of nationalism and underpins neo-Nazism. This is what fuels the regime in its present-day form. And this is what we are fighting.

Guards Lieutenant Colonel Dmitry Pryanikov, Black Sea Fleet: May I?

Vladimir Putin: Yes, please. Go ahead.

Dmitry Pryanikov: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

Guards Lieutenant Colonel Dmitry Pryanikov, Black Sea Fleet.

The 43rd Separate Guards Naval Assault Aviation Regiment of the Black Sea Fleet Naval Aviation has been participating and carrying out tasks of the special military operation since the very first days. The workload is enormous, and the number of combat missions is only increasing. That is why our personnel value every minute of silence, in order to carry out scheduled maintenance and repair works on the aircraft, conduct debriefings with the flight crews, teach something or simply get some sleep, take a shower, or enjoy the silence for a while.

My question is simple. Given your schedule and your workload today, what is your way of pulling yourself together, rebooting in five or seven minutes when you feel absolutely exhausted? Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: You need to save your energy so that you are always ready for combat. That is the first thing.

Second. You know, what I do is a rather unique kind of activity, and it involves a diversity of tasks. Just now, Andrei Belousov reported on the documents that he had prepared. Even at the ministerial level, this is a huge body of work in the interests of the state. We have just discussed financial issues, organisational matters and international affairs. But that is only the Ministry’s work. In the country as a whole, it is similar: there are social issues, cultural matters – you name it.

What am I getting at? Over the course of the day, I have to meet with colleagues and people from different fields. I have to switch from one topic to another constantly, almost instantly. And overall, this provides a bit of a reset because, as one famous person once said, a change of activity is the best kind of rest. For me, that happens all the time.

Of course, physical exercise and sports are important. When there is an opportunity, one should try listening to music or doing something they love. I try to do that myself as much as possible. And, of course, you need to keep an eye on your daily routine, and you need to get enough sleep. I advise you to do the same. Did I hit the mark? I see.

Go ahead.

Guards Major Oleg Solomakha, commander of an assault company of a marine battalion, the 145th Marine Regiment, 810th Guards Separate Marine Brigade of the Black Sea Fleet: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces, I am Guards Major Solomakha, commander of an assault company.

We were brought up from the example of heroes of the Great Patriotic War. I want to ask if our great-grandchildren will learn from the example of heroes of the special military operation. Will textbooks tell them about our heroes, people from Donbass who fought to the bitter end?

Vladimir Putin: Yes, without a doubt. Moreover, this is already being done. I think you could notice that.

We are trying to support creative initiatives. Songs are being composed, films are being made, and books are being written about them. Moreover, new chapters are being added to our history textbooks.

You know, the river of time is endless, and every era gives birth to its own heroes, people like you and those who are, regrettably, no longer with us. But all these people write history, people like you and your comrades-in-arms who have given their lives for Russia, for our Motherland. But it is true that the country must know its history.

Therefore, special funds are allocated at the Ministry of Culture to support filmmakers in this sphere. On the other hand, I keep thinking that we also need to imbue the mindset of our society, our people with the importance of the cause you are serving. You are serving your Motherland. What can be more important than that?

Your colleague has just now spoken about a schedule, my working schedule and his working schedule. But what can be more important than what you are doing now? Nothing is more important, because you are defending our Motherland. You at the forefront of events, and it is even more difficult for you than for me. But no matter how difficult it is, you risk your lives every day, and the country must certainly know about this.

Please.

Battery Commander of the 336th Naval Infantry Regiment of the 120th Guards Naval Infantry Division of the Baltic Fleet, Guards Captain Yegor Borko: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation!

Guards Captain Yegor Borko, Baltic Fleet.

As we are aware, you receive daily summaries, reports , and dispatches regarding the operational situation in the special military operation zone. I am curious – do you also receive information from elsewhere, from the so-called public channels? And do you watch videos from the front line?

Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: I am situated at a point where all available information converges. Accordingly, I receive it from official sources, from your commanding officers, from yourself, and from the men – fighters such as you, and commanders whom I occasionally have the opportunity to meet. Not often, admittedly, but nevertheless. I receive information from the special services monitoring the situation across all sectors of the line of contact and, indeed, throughout the country, along with information from the mass media. Regarding public channels and bloggers, there are all manner of people. There are bloggers whom I sometimes even watch with pleasure. Although I seldom have the time, whenever I come across them, frankly speaking, I am sometimes glad. Splendid – well done, they strike precisely at the heart of the matter. Such individuals do exist. Equally, there are those who, in my view, are pursuing their own personal objectives. I shall not elaborate. However, all kinds of information exist, and it reaches me as well.

As for public channels and the like, they are not without utility, yet they are dangerous because there is a considerable amount of informational noise. If a person is unprepared, or lacks a fundamental grasp of the essence of current events, then these public channels can mislead anyone. For me, this has a certain significance – it also creates a particular backdrop, reflecting the variety of sources of information. This affords me the opportunity to assess the public channels themselves accordingly. Some of them are undoubtedly good. Nevertheless, I rely primarily on what I receive from official sources, although I form my final conclusions based on an analysis of the entire body of information that reaches me.

Guards Senior Seaman Vitaly Suchkov, senior gunner of a rocket artillery platoon crew, 177th Guards Separate Marine Regiment of the Caspian Flotilla: Permission to speak, sir?

Vladimir Putin: Go ahead.

Vitaly Suchkov: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Russia!

Guards Senior Seaman Suchkov, Caspian Flotilla.

I know that I have already asked a question, but it is extremely important for me to say this. I was called up for military service in September 2022 during the mobilisation. Without a moment’s hesitation, I stepped up to protect my Motherland and has been fighting on the frontline for nearly four years. My commanders say that I have learned a new profession, a rocket artillery crewman, very well. Today, when we are celebrating Navy Day together with my comrades in arms, I would like to sign a contract with the Defence Ministry, joining the naval professionals. I want to and I will defend my Motherland.

This concludes my report.

Vladimir Putin: I can say nothing except words of gratitude. It is a very good example when a person who was mobilised has found his calling. Do you know what I think when I look at what is happening to you and meet people like you? I think that many of those who led very quiet, unassuming lives, doing their jobs and fulfilling their duties in government or even military service feel very differently now, because they know that they are playing a crucial part in defending the country.

There are very many important things that stabilise the country and develop it. The might of the country now comprises very many elements, such as the economy, finance, information security, and, of course, the industry, all of which are important. But the direct protection of the state certainly puts the people who do this in the front row of those who are not only defending the country but are also strengthening it and shaping its future.

That is why I wish you every success. Thank you very much.

Please.

Guards Junior Sergeant Yury Malofeyev, commander of an air assault battalion squad, 61st Guards Separate Marine Brigade of the Northern Fleet: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation!

Guards Junior Sergeant Yury Malofeyev, Northern Fleet.

In 2026, we mark both the 330th anniversary of the Navy and the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia. This is symbolic for us, because the Navy historically united people of all nationalities. There is also a real international of peoples on the frontline. We do not think about ethnic backgrounds there, because we are one people and one family fighting for our common Motherland, just as our grandfathers and great-grandfathers did 80 years ago.

Incidentally, I am proud that my son Ivan was born on May 9, the day of our Great Victory. Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief, I would like to say on behalf of all our men, all personnel of the Navy that we will do everything in our power to rout the enemy and win, just like our forefathers did back then.

Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: That’s how it will be, no question about it. I have no doubt whatsoever.

You said that your son was born on May 9. In which year?

Yury Malofeyev: In 2023.

Vladimir Putin: So, how old is he, three years? Where does your family live?

Yury Malofeyev: In Severodvinsk.

Vladimir Putin: In Severodvinsk.

You said that this is the Year of Unity and that we are one people. You know, this feeling of unity is extremely important. And the fact that people put in special conditions, combat conditions, people on the line of contact, the frontline, feel this unity and this brotherhood despite different ethnic backgrounds and even different religions is extremely important for any country but it is doubly or even triply important for such a multinational country as Russia.

[Much depends] on this unity, on maintaining it… We must preserve this feeling of unity when the special military operation ends, and it will certainly end, sooner or later. You know, I meet with those who are helping you on the home front, doing their jobs and helping the frontline, like women who make nets and children who knit mittens. These people are doing this from the bottom of their hearts.

I have heard people say amazing things on several occasions: What will we do when the special military operation ends? In other words, they have become so deeply involved, putting their hearts into it and feeling part of a greater cause needed for the good of the nation, that they feel a sense of anxiety, worrying that they will not be as needed then as they are now. This is very important, and we certainly need to think together about preserving this [sense of engagement] in the future.

Look at what is happening in the neighbouring country. They are all at each other’s throats, like spiders in a jar. They are carving up the money stolen from Ukrainian people or their Western sponsors. They are carving it up and hounding each other to death, fleeing abroad, hiding, returning, and there is no end to it. What sort of unity can we talk about?

In addition to all of this, there is Ukraine’s western part, the gift from Joseph Stalin to Ukraine after the war. Stalin gifted those lands to Ukraine. He gifted them within one state. Probably, it never occurred to him that something like today’s situation could happen.

Speaking of which, I am certain that sooner or later, Ukraine will lose these western lands. What belonged to Poland, Hungary and Romania will sooner or later (not tomorrow but in a year or two, in ten or 15 years) will be put back in its historical place. Russia was the only guarantor of Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

They found it necessary, possible and beneficial for themselves to declare Russia its enemy and to declare Russians a non-titular ethnicity in Ukraine, which is complete nonsense. But they did it. They officially decided that Russians are not a titular ethnicity in Ukraine. It has come to that. Who are they then? Well, what can you do.

The modern world order was established after World War II and the Great Patriotic War based on the United Nations Charter. The Charter was designed by the winning countries – the Soviet Union, the United States, and Great Britain. The Charter serves as the basis for modern international law. It was created to provide certain rules.

Later, when the Soviet Union was torn apart, one of the UN founding nations and creators of international law, the system of international relations, ceased to exist. The so-called winners in the Cold War ‒ not only the United States but the entire collective West ‒ suddenly decided they should rectify a few things. Why should Russia and not the Soviet Union ‒ the Russia that lost certain potential ‒ benefit from the same privileges as a WWII winning nation? They started amending things ‒ and putting these amendments in practice immediately.

Remember what happened in Yugoslavia. I will not pass judgment on it now – it is a complex issue. But the Serbian people were divided into different national entities… Decisions were made that were completely at odds with the UN Charter. In effect, they let the genie out of the bottle. Then they assured us – assured Mikhail Gorbachev – that NATO would not expand. Yet one expansion followed another. Despite our repeated objections and protests, they paid no attention to either their promises or Russia’s security concerns. They just kept pushing forward until they reached Ukraine. At the time, Ukraine’s President supported joining the European Union but opposed NATO membership. What happened then? A coup d'état was orchestrated, bloody and unconstitutional, and the entire West acted as if nothing extraordinary had happened, as though it were perfectly acceptable.

It was precisely these aggressive actions, escalating year after year, that ultimately led to the current conflict in Ukraine and compelled us to launch the special military operation in an effort to bring an end to the military actions that had already been initiated by the West and the Kiev regime in what was then part of Ukraine.

But what you said about the unity of the Russian people and the sense that everyone is one family on the front lines, in the combat zone, is one of the most significant outcomes of the special military operation. That is extremely important to us. Our common goal is to preserve and strengthen this sense of unity among Russia’s multinational people.

Once again, let me congratulate you on Navy Day and wish you all the very best. Take care of yourselves and of the personnel under your command. I wish you every success – and victory to us all.

Thank you.

Alexander Moiseyev: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,

This conversation – this meeting with you – is undoubtedly very important to us. The men have asked if it would be possible for you to leave an autograph. We have some photographs and our banner here, and we would be grateful if you could sign them.

Vladimir Putin: Of course. We are all here together.

Where would you like me to sign?

Remark: May I?

Vladimir Putin: Certainly.

Alexander Moiseyev: Guards Senior Sergeant Naumov. Please.

Timur Naumov: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,

On behalf of the 61st Guards Brigade, may I ask you to leave a commemorative signature on our brigade flag?

Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much.

Happy Navy Day once again. All the best to you all.

Legislation regarding cross-border transfer of personal data has been clarified

2026-07-28T17:34:26+04:00

Vladimir Putin signed the Federal Law On Amendments to Article 12 of the Federal Law On Personal Data and several legislative acts of the Russian Federation.

The federal law is intended to increase legal protection of personal data owners in the cross-border transfer of their personal data.

In particular, it clarifies the criterions of putting foreign states on the list of states ensuring an adequate protection of the rights of personal data owners.

Presenting state decorations to Russian Navy personnel

2026-07-26T20:52:48+04:00

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Comrades.

Congratulations on Russian Navy Day!

I am delighted to present these high state decorations to you. You have earned them for your courage, heroism in combat, and flawless service to the Fatherland; for your loyalty to military duty, and to your country and people.

For the sailors and officers of the Russian Navy, loyalty to Russia has always been and remains a powerful spiritual anchor, and the foundation of solid naval traditions.

This ceremony is taking place at the Admiralty, which is rightly considered one of the greatest symbols of the Russian Navy’s progress and glory. It was forged by the hard work, talent, strong will and victories of many generations. You, too, have inscribed your names in its history. The sailors of surface and submarine forces, marine aviation pilots, marines and coastline forces invariably demonstrate courage and bravery.

Comrades, your achievements are a result of modern knowledge and advanced professional skills. You were destined to serve in this challenging and highly demanding period, to gain experience in real combat conditions, and to learn to operate in constantly changing circumstances smartly and promptly. This speaks to your merits and personal contribution to the Russian Navy’s might, its progress, and to securing Russia’s interests and Russian citizens’ security – a contribution to our common victory.

Thank you for your service, comrades. I wish you new achievements and heights.

Thank you.

Commander of the 36th Division of Surface Forces of the Primorye All-Arms Flotilla of the Pacific Fleet, Captain 1st Rank Alexei Ulyanenko: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief.

On this remarkable day for naval sailors, the division entrusted to me and I feel immensely proud of belonging to the most technologically advanced branch of the Russian Armed Forces, the Russian Navy.

The award I received today represents the accomplishment of my entire division. Every navigated mile, every successful exercise and every combat mission makes a contribution to Russia's defence capability – a sailor’s contribution.

Allow me to thank you, on behalf of all naval sailors who serve in the surface and submarine forces, the Marine Corps and the Marine Aviation, for your tireless attention to the development of the Russian Navy.

Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief, all the tasks set for the naval sailors will be fulfilled.

Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: Comrades, friends.

Congratulations on these well-deserved high state awards.

As I was presenting the awards, a simple and seemingly trivial thought crossed my mind. Russia can be rightly proud of warriors like you.

Happy Russian Navy Day!

The Ministry of Labour transfers a number of its powers in the area of migration to the Interior Ministry of Russia

2026-07-28T17:30:24+04:00

The President signed the Federal Law On Amendments to the Federal Law On the Legal Status of Foreign Nationals in the Russian Federation and to Article 256 of the Federal Law On the Procedure for Exiting the Russian Federation and Entering the Russian Federation.

The Federal Law transfers to the Interior Ministry of Russia the powers of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection related to approving a list of professions (specialities, positions) of foreign nationals and stateless persons – skilled specialists entitled to obtaining a residence permit in the Russian Federation without obtaining a temporary residence permit, as well as a list of professions (specialities, positions) of foreign nationals – skilled specialists, who find an employment in keeping with a profession (speciality) they have, and who are not covered by the quotas for the issuance of work permits to foreign nationals who arrive in the Russian Federation on the basis of a visa.

Reports by fleet commanders on the security landscape and current missions

2026-07-26T20:45:25+04:00

On Navy Day, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief heard reports presented by the commanders of Russia’s Pacific, Northern, Baltic and Black Sea fleets, as well as the Caspian Flotilla, covering the security landscape and their current missions.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Comrades.

First of all, I would like to extend my greetings to you and the entire personnel of the Russian Navy on Navy Day. Even though it is a professional holiday, it is still known and celebrated by our entire nation in a very vibrant and solemn way, showing great respect for sailors, veterans, and the rich and heroic history of Russia’s naval forces.

This immense public recognition is the result of many centuries of hard work, without exaggeration. The Fatherland’s loyal sons conquered the seas under their national flag, defended our frontiers, crushed enemies, and contributed tremendously to the development of science, industrial production, and cultural links between peoples and continents.

Today, we do not just commemorate the remarkable geographical discoveries, key battles and victories of our famed naval commanders; we also assess the current state of affairs in the navy and its prospects, as it is one of the crucial components for ensuring Russia’s security and maintaining global parity through the development of the naval component of our nuclear triad.

The Navy, including the Marine Corps, plays a crucial role in achieving the goals of the special military operation, while ship-borne weapons systems deliver smashing strikes on the enemy with high-precision weapons; the marines keep moving forward, fighting courageously, masterfully and fearlessly. Our entire country supports them and awaits their return home with victory. I want to extend my warmest greetings to the fighters and commanders currently operating in combat positions. Thank you, comrades, for your faithful service to the Motherland.

Now, I would like to hear reports from the commanders of the Pacific, Northern, Baltic and Black Sea fleets, as well as the Caspian Flotilla, on the current security landscape and missions.

The first to report is Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Alexander Moiseyev.

Please.

Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Alexander Moiseyev: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation!

According to the Navy construction and development plan, 20 ships, vessels and boats have been accepted into service in 2026. These include the Polyarny, a Project 12700 minesweeper for the Northern Fleet, and the Burya, a Project 22800 small missile ship for the Baltic Fleet. I should note that the latter was prepared in record time and has now been integrated into the defence system for key economic facilities in the Leningrad Region. Factory repairs to the strategic cruiser Karelia have also been completed. By the end of the year, we plan to accept a further 21 units into the Navy, including the first nuclear-powered submarine cruiser armed with the Zircon hypersonic system – the Perm, a Yasen-M‑class submarine. We also aim to complete the repair and modernisation of the nuclear cruiser Admiral Nakhimov and the attack submarine Leopard.

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