Vladimir Putin visited a training center for conscripts mobilized in the Ryazan region, southeast of Moscow, on Thursday, according to images broadcast on Russian television.
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It was the first time since the announcement on September 21 of the mobilization of hundreds of thousands of reservists to try to stem the dynamics of the Kyiv troops that the Russian president attended on the ground training exercises of these civilians. called upon to support the offensive in Ukraine.
AFP
At a shooting range, Mr. Putin tried his hand at shooting an automatic weapon, lying on the ground under camouflage netting, a hard hat over his ears, safety glasses, a black coat on the back, according to these images broadcast on Russian television.
Vladimir Putin also exchanged a few words with some of these soldiers.
“What kind of family do you have?” he asked one.
“A girl. Five years,” replied the latter.
The Russian president then took him in his arms and wished him “good luck”.
AFP
Generals also showed Vladimir Putin what equipment had been provided to these recruits, presenting him with a row of men, some of whom had their backpacks open to show what they had.
“Turn around!”, ordered one of these officers to a soldier to show the Russian president that they were properly equipped.
“These are exceptional boots,” commented the general, while Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who accompanied Mr Putin, inspected the boots.
“Everything to fulfill the tasks” that will be assigned to them, the commander said.
AFP
This visit followed reports that the men mobilized are ill-equipped, which has caused some discontent in Russia.
According to Russian news agencies, Mr. Putin also observed tactical training exercises or even fire control in the event of a large fire.
The Russian Minister of Defense gave him, on this occasion, an update on the training of these hundreds of reservists mobilized, underlined the Russian press agencies.
AFP
According to an official figure communicated last Friday, 222,000 people have already been mobilized, of which 16,000 are already in “units involved in combat” in Ukraine.
The mobilization in Russia aims to support Moscow’s forces in Ukraine following a series of military setbacks.
