Speaking at a traditional annual reception for the graduates of military academies and universities at the Kremlin, President Vladimir Putin said that key importance is being given to the issue of equipping the armed forces with the most advanced arms and equipment. Practice shows that high-technology weapons act as a powerful deterrent to potential aggressors and are the guarantee of success in modern armed conflicts.
The demands of technological modernisation require the armed forces to consolidate their human resources potential. Addressing the graduates, Mr Putin said he was confident that their knowledge, military training and growing professionalism would be decisive for the success of military reform and development in Russia.