President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, friends. I am delighted to see you.
You may have noticed that it is my regular practice to talk, meet and maintain contact with representatives of different services and branches of the Russian Armed Forces at various levels: combat troops and senior commanders, commanders of groups of forces (we maintain regular contact with them), and also with commanders of subunits – brigades, divisions, armies, and battalions.
But I wanted to meet with you specifically, specifically today, on Russia Day, because you are the people who – like other personnel involved in the special military operation (I will speak about this further) – are directly involved in defending our Motherland, defending our Fatherland, defending Russia. Russia Day is your day.
At all times, assault troops have closed the book on any battle, finalising any military conflict. It is infantry and assault troops who ultimately seal the outcome of a combat mission.
When I meet, say, with pilots or sailors, gunners or members of other military jobs, I hear – and you probably have heard it yourselves – the same idea they all say in chorus: we do this and that to help and support our assault troops, to give them more confidence; to ensure that the losses are minimal. Everybody works to support you.
Every serviceperson performs their job diligently. But in the long run, it all comes down to you completing the combat mission.
This has been true at all times: during Peter the Great’s reign, when his grenadiers fought for the Motherland, and during Suvorov’s and Kutuzov’s times, and through all military conflicts. It has always been true and it remains true today. On the same note, I would like to underline the crucial task that our assault units – you and your brothers-in-arms – are handling right now.
On this holiday, I wanted to meet with you. So I asked the Minister and the Chief of the General Staff to arrange the presence of, as they phrase it in officialese, representatives of all branches, all subunits, and all groups. I hope this arrangement has been achieved.
I would like to hear you out: what you think about current developments, what you wish could be done additionally to ensure our goals are achieved successfully, effectively, with minimal losses, and with maximum effect. Please don’t hold back; you are welcome to raise any questions you find important and which, in your opinion, have been waiting for a solution, in this orderly and friendly businesslike setting.
Overall, I know what issues are going to be discussed, but either way, I am curious to know the opinion of people who are handling Russia’s crucial tasks on the ground right now.
That is essentially all I wanted to say for starters. We didn’t have anything special planned for this meeting. I just wanted to see you and say thank you. Please pass my words of gratitude to all our men, all our fighters working alongside you.
I will be pleased to hear your opinions and views on current developments and what should be done to ensure the goals are achieved more clearly, more transparently and with the best possible outcome for the Motherland.
That is all I wanted to say in the beginning. Please.
Alexei Lisovoy: Sergeant Alexei Lisovoy, Marine Corps, 155th Regiment, 2nd Battalion.
First, I want to say this: the assault troops you see here have looked death in the face more than once. And when the time came to defend the Russian population of Donbass, we stood as one under the Russian banner – just as our grandfathers and great-grandfathers did during the Great Patriotic War.
And in response to the words you addressed to Russian military personnel at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, I want to say on behalf of everyone here: we are working, and we will continue to work, until complete victory over the enemy. All the tasks and goals you have set will be fully accomplished.
I have a small suggestion. Just a week ago, a decorated Hero of Russia died a heroic death. Senior Lieutenant… I am sorry, I am really nervous.
Vladimir Putin: You are less stressed under fire than you are here.
Alexei Lisovoy: Yes, sir. That is much more important. We probably behave more naturally under fire – when we are not standing in front of the President.
Vladimir Putin: You mean Ochir-Goryayev, don’t you?
Alexei Lisovoy: [Naran] Ochir-Goryayev, yes. He died tragically. So here is my proposal: we ask you to consider giving honorary designations to the assault units, so that we do not forget their heroism, and the men themselves, who gave their lives on the battlefield.
Thank you.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you for remembering him. He was such a vibrant, remarkable man.
I have said this before, and I will tell you honestly: when I spoke with him, first during the Direct Line, when he reported directly from Seversk, and then when I met him in Moscow, I asked him, “How can I help? Any practical needs? Any problems?” And you know, it is extraordinary. A real man. He was a father of many children, by the way. And his first request – essentially his only one – was: “My mother is getting old. Everything is fine, everything is fine, we do not need anything.” Even though, as it turned out, the family still had unresolved social and welfare issues. He said, “My mother is getting old. Her health is failing. If possible, help her.” Things like that, moments like that, move you to tears, you know. Unfortunately, we lose people like him too.
Let’s honour his memory, and the memory of the other heroes who have passed away giving their lives for their homeland, for Russia, with a moment of silence.
(Minute of silence.)
Thank you.
As for your proposal, I believe it is important not only to name assault units after such fighters – our heroes, without exaggeration, like you and Ochir-Goryayev, like other personnel who are selflessly sacrificing their health and lives for Russia – but also to immortalise the names of these fighters, these guys who truly gave their lives to strengthen our country – laid them down as the very foundation of Russia’s strength. I have already spoken to the Executive Office, I mean my office, and certain messages have been communicated to the Government as well.
Clearly, this applies to assault units, but also to other divisions and military units as well. What’s more, streets should be named after them, and the schools where they studied, and so on. There is a lot to consider. It is not even for them but for us, the people living today, and for future generations. They are examples of brilliant lives and, importantly, of dignified deaths.
I have said it many times and I want to repeat: nothing lasts forever, does it? Every person will eventually end their life journey – it is natural. What is important is how the person lived their life. Of course, these are great examples that we need to strengthen our country, our morale, our spiritual strength today and in the future. Immortalising their names is, without a doubt, an extremely important task. And we will do that.
Please. Feel free to speak your mind.
Denis Ognyanik: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,
Sergeant Denis Ognyanik, the 163rd tank regiment, sir.
During offensive operations, assault units have to carry gear, munitions and food supplies. They walk up to 15 km per day while carrying this weight. All supplies are delivered to the frontline using heavy-lift drones. The enemy uses hexacopters called Baba Yaga. They are controlled via Starlink.
Is it possible to organise domestic production of similar heavy-lift drones operated via satellite channels?
Vladimir Putin: Yes, it is possible, and work is already underway. In 2023, we launched our first satellites capable of doing what you described – they are already in orbit. And this work has continued in 2024 and 2025.
We essentially have a private company working on this – I will not name it again, though it has been mentioned many times in various contexts and in the media. It operates successfully. We are expanding this low-orbit constellation, and it is capable of doing everything you mentioned. The question is when it will become fully operational. But the work is not just well underway – it is moving at a good pace and to a high standard. I hope you will feel that on the ground soon enough.
The same applies to communications, and to the gear you have to carry – the weight. The Ministry of Defence knows this, the General Staff knows this, and Mr Belousov himself has been working on it constantly throughout his time as minister. The best options are being selected. I hope you are feeling the difference. Those who have been in the service for a long time have probably noticed how much things have improved compared to a few years ago. But of course, we will keep working to reduce the load.
And these drones that can carry over 30 kilograms – how much are they carrying now?
Defence Minister Andrei Belousov: Anywhere from 10 to 40 kilograms.
Vladimir Putin: Right now they carry 30.
Andrei Belousov: Yes.
We will deliver about 20,000 of these to the troops this year. The product line has expanded significantly. Last year, there was practically only one type – the well-known Product 80. It was not very high quality, and they are still refining it. This year, there are already over a dozen types but I can’t name them on camera.
Vladimir Putin: The Ministry of Defence is ordering these drones, and we will increase the quantity. As for Bureau 1440 – this has probably been mentioned many times before, and I will say it again, there is nothing top-secret about it. The organisation handling this low-orbit satellite constellation is in no way inferior to Starlink – in some ways, perhaps even superior.
Andrei Belousov: Even better.
Vladimir Putin: Yes. It is a matter of scaling up these capabilities. So we are working in that direction.
Sergei Chuvashov: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,
Guards Lieutenant Sergei Chuvashov, Commander of the Air Assault Platoon of the 247th Guards Air Assault Regiment, sir.
I have the following question.
Unfortunately, many of our brothers-in-arms have left our ranks following severe, crippling wounds. We are concerned about their fate and prospects outside the army.
In 2022, the Defence Ministry launched a special rehabilitation and adaptation programme for this category of personnel. Military posts are created for them promptly regardless of the severity of their wounds. Special-purpose rehabilitation and training centres are available. They are provided with housing in their chosen location of service.
On the same note, I would like to know what social guarantees are planned for these people in the future.
And I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on Russia Day on behalf of the airborne troops and the Dnepr Group of Forces. I wish you long and fruitful work for the sake of Russia’s prosperity.
Thank you.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much.
We’ll work together for Russia’s prosperity.
Sergei Chuvashov: Yes, sir.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much.
As regards the social guarantees you mentioned, you know, I remember one of the first meetings with the mothers of our fallen soldiers. Some of the mothers shared their families’ problems. Some said that their sons had returned from the zone of hostilities but were in critical condition. Back then, the Healthcare Ministry and the Defence Ministry were given additional instructions. A public foundation called Defenders of the Fatherland was established.
I hope – at least as far as I know – this foundation is quite active and involves family members and veterans of the special military operation in its work in all regions of Russia. This means direct communication with families and individuals. Direct communication produces results.
I am not going to list all the programmes – there are plenty – but there are several focus areas: rehabilitation and efforts to ensure that veterans, especially those with severe wounds, do not drop out of social and public life, or out of work. There are several projects here involving sports, public activism, and so on.
You mentioned that the Ministry of Defence adopted a certain decision that we introduced into the current regulatory and legal framework. In the past, a person with wounds was no longer allowed to serve in the Armed Forces. A decision was made to permit further service. It is a done deal now.
But I told the Minister and other colleagues in the Ministry that it is not enough to offer service in, say, military recruitment centres – which is not bad, and many guys are happy to do it. I even asked them if we could come up with something more interesting for them, and they said it’s enough. But there is certainly more to it.
The Minister is aware of it. There are many teams in the Ministry. The Defence Ministry as a government body is becoming more and more technology-intensive. There are ample opportunities for military personnel, numerous opportunities even for people who have lost certain health capacities but who can still be active in work and want to feel valued. I am asking the Defence Ministry to continue considering other niches because the scope is unlimited. The Defenders of the Fatherland fund will continue to deal with these matters.
You may have heard about the Time of Heroes platform. I have said many times and I want to repeat: clearly, the pool is big, over 700,000 people. Clearly, the platform can’t take all 700,000. One needs ambition, first, and certain qualifications, second. Those who want to develop professionally must be given such opportunities.
Corresponding decisions have been adopted, and we will keep improving this system. If somebody wants to go further in education, pursue vocational education or civilian higher education, we will do our best to ensure that our fighters – people like you and your comrades – have such opportunities, including financial and organisational support. This includes housing provision, among other things.
We are working across all fields – medical rehabilitation, education, and employment. Both the Defence Minister and the Prime Minister are raising this issue constantly. We all understand that, once the special military operation is over, a significant number of people will return to civilian life. Trust me, everybody in the Government is concerned with this matter. They are thinking about how to help the guys find their calling, and how to ensure that they find decent employment, obtain additional skills and qualifications, and have access to medical rehabilitation by any means necessary.
You know, this is always a huge undertaking. And in any major undertaking, there are always some hurdles, some hiccups: something forgotten or overlooked. But the system is designed to organise this work in the best possible way. If you see anything, something not meeting expectations, please report it directly to your superiors. We will try to fine-tune it – the Minister is here now, the Chief of the General Staff will be arriving in a couple of hours, and I’ll speak with him separately as well – so that it is communicated easily, so that we can take any glitches into account, hear them, and make the necessary adjustments.
In fact, our meeting today is also dedicated to this.
Thank you.
Please, let’s continue.
Maxim Stepanenko: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,
Guards Lieutenant Maxim Stepanenko, assault platoon commander, assault company, Motor Rifle Battalion, 137th Ural Separate Assault Brigade, sir.
I have several questions. How soon can we ensure a mass supply of UAVs similar to the fibre-optic drones with artificial intelligence that the enemy is using? Is it possible to centralise the industrial production of hand-held, pistol-type net launchers and supply them to the troops to destroy enemy FPV drones operating via fibre optics?
To destroy enemy UAVs, we need pellet-firing cartridges not only for smoothbore weapons but also for 5.45mm automatic weapons. Can these be factory-produced?
For rapid, silent, and stealthy movement to the enemy’s front lines, an assault trooper needs various types of electric vehicles: scooters, kick-scooters, ATVs, and motorcycles. Can this problem be solved within the framework of the state defence order?
Vladimir Putin: You have many questions, and I will try to answer them broadly.
Regarding FPV drones and drones with artificial intelligence, work in these areas is very active – very much so.
Just before coming to this meeting – perhaps you were watching television, if you had the opportunity – I was presenting state awards. There was also a closed session, in addition to what was shown in the media. There, I presented awards to representatives of the defence industry, of our leading enterprises. Of course, during that ceremony, we also had a discussion, and in such settings, there can be no discussion other than about production matters. They all told me in detail about their previous accomplishments and the reasons for which the nation was awarding them, as well as what they had in store, what they were working on, and what they were proposing for the near future.
And of course, on our side, UAVs using artificial intelligence, targeting images for destruction, and so on – we are working on all of this, very actively. That is the first answer.
To be continued.