Putin Demonstrates Prone Sniper Rifle Shooting, Wishes "Good Luck" to Soldier with 5-Year-Old Daughter

Visit to conscript training camp in Ryajin region... Intended to boost military morale and dispel health rumors
Encouraged soldiers and observed mock training... Inspected amid equipment complaints

On the 20th (local time), Vladimir Putin, President of Russia (center), visited the Western Front mobilization reserve training center in the Ryazan region of central Russia and spoke with a soldier.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jung-wan] Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the training grounds of reservist soldiers conscripted for the first time since the partial mobilization order and encouraged the troops.

On the 20th (local time), the British daily Daily Mail reported that President Putin, who is assessed to be on the defensive due to the prolonged war approaching nine months, sought to project an image of a 'strong man.'

The Daily Mail analyzed that Putin's actions appear intended to boost military morale by demonstrating his vitality and dispelling the persistent rumors about his health issues.

Russian Defense Ministry-operated TV reported that on this day, President Putin visited a conscript training center in the Ryazan region, about 200 km southeast of the capital Moscow.

The state TV also aired scenes of President Putin, dressed in black top and bottom, wearing shooting earplugs and safety glasses, lying under a camouflage net and firing several rounds from the latest Russian-made Dragunov SVD sniper rifle. It also broadcast footage of Putin observing conscripts undergoing obstacle courses and simulated training fighting against armored vehicles at the training center.

According to AFP on the same day, President Putin turned back while walking to speak to the soldiers. When Putin asked one soldier, "How many family members do you have?" the soldier replied, "I have a 5-year-old daughter." Putin then hugged the soldier and said, "Good luck."

Equipment inspections of the soldiers were also conducted. Military officials lined up the soldiers so that Putin could check and opened their bags to show their contents. When Minister Shoigu inspected the shoes, a military official explained, "These are special boots," adding, "They have everything needed to carry out the mission."

AFP reported, "This visit appears to be in response to reports of dissatisfaction among mobilized soldiers due to inadequate equipment."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.