On the campaign trail for United Russia, Putin kicks a soccer ball, admires giant halibut, and dons a sailor’s uniform
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been traveling actively around Russia in recent weeks — since the start of summer, he has visited seven regions outside Moscow and St. Petersburg. Before that, he had not left the two capitals and the Novgorod region (where his residence in Valdai is located) for a record seven months. In the regions, Putin is visits major industrial plants and mass events and…
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been on active campaign trips around Russia since the start of summer, visiting seven regions outside of the capital cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg. The president's travels coincide with the election campaign of United Russia, which aims to capitalize on his popularity.
During his visit to Krasnoyarsk on August 3, Putin attended the final of Bolshaya Peremena, where he kicked a soccer ball to the delight of the crowd. The ball was later sent to a museum.
On August 10 in Ulan-Ude, Putin's arrival was met with numerous quotes from him plastered across buses, including his commendation of the energy and initiative of the people of Buryatia. Putin met with a young boy who had invited him to Ulan-Ude, assuring him that he would help him get into the Suvorov military school.
In Novosibirsk on August 11, electric scooters were banned from the new asphalt laid in the city center ahead of Putin's visit. The president engaged with young scientists, discussing the threats that artificial intelligence could pose to society. He also stopped his motorcade unexpectedly to take photos with children who had been waiting for hours.
On August 12 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Putin participated in Pacific Fleet exercises and expressed his views on the day's news, accusing the European Union of piracy over the seizure of Russian merchant ships. The president also appeared in the new uniform of the Navy's commander-in-chief, marking the 26th anniversary of the sinking of the submarine Kursk. However, he did not mention this tragic event.
On August 13, Putin visited Iturup Island for the first time, despite his previous reluctance to visit the Kuril Islands to avoid antagonizing Japan. At a fish processing plant, Putin sampled caviar and marveled at the enormous halibut and tuna. He also expressed his happiness with the weather, calling it "resort-like." The governor praised the determination of the region's residents to achieve victory, describing them as "people of winners."
Written by urgent.news from Meduza (English)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
