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Accompanied by Minister of Industry and Trade Anton Alikhanov, Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Ural Federal District Artem Zhoga, Governor of the Chelyabinsk Region Alexei Teksler, as well as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) Viktor Rashnikov and MMK General Director Pavel Shilyaev, the President inspected the complex of coke battery No. 12, which was launched in 2024.

The production capacity of the new battery amounts to 2.5 million tonnes of dry coking coal annually. The modernised equipment allows for reducing pollutant emissions in atmospheric by more than 11,000 tonnes per year, while ensuring zero-waste production through the implementation of a coke dry quenching installation.

The Head of State also familiarised himself with the machine-building products workshop. A modern production facility has been created here which, starting from 2026, will enable import substitution of equipment in the mining and metallurgical industry. The workshop will be capable of manufacturing more than 10,000 tonnes of products per year.

Following the inspection of the workshop, Vladimir Putin spoke with MMK workers.

Conversation with workers at the Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon.

I would like to congratulate you, and by extension, as they say in such cases, all workers of the steel industry and your huge mining and metals complex on the upcoming Metallurgists’ Day.

Remarks: Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: I wish you all the best.

Your enterprise is not a newcomer in the industry; it is approaching its centenary. At the same time, it is getting younger all the time. This is very positive, first, because you live here, and it is extremely important for people to feel improvements in terms of the environment. I have just been shown results, which have been confirmed by the relevant oversight services, indicating that hazardous emissions have decreased several times over. As I have said, it is clear where the roots of this achievement lie and what they consist of: the company’s managers and shareholders have invested, on average, 90 billion rubles [a year] in modernisation. This is a significant amount. Mr Rashnikov said that the sum will be slightly smaller this year, but it will be increased again next year. That is what has produced the results we see.

Another factor is everyone’s engagement, from workers, engineers and scientists to the most highly skilled professionals. It is the engagement of everyone, from ordinary workers to top professionals, as well as the company’s shareholders and managers, that has produced this result.

I wholeheartedly congratulate you on Metallurgists’ Day and the upcoming centenary of your enterprise.

Remarks: Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: I wish you all the best.

If you would like to discuss any issues or ask any questions, feel free to do so.

Alexander Titov: Hello, Mr President.

My name is Alexander. First of all, on behalf of the entire team, thank you for your attention to the Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works.

This is not your first visit here; the city is developing, as is the plant. I would love to hear your opinion.

Vladimir Putin: I have only visited the plant so far. We are also going to see the park. But I stay in touch with the governor and know about progress in Magnitogorsk. I will meet with the governor as well, to discuss everything, the region’s overall development and Magnitogorsk in particular. I hope you can see the changes. Hospitals and kindergartens are undergoing major renovations; new facilities are being built. Around 30 new facilities will be opened before the year is out, correct? Have thirty healthcare facilities been opened recently?

Governor of the Chelyabinsk Region Alexei Teksler:

Mr President,three facilities in the city alone and 300 in the region overall, including major renovations and new projects. Over 100 rural medical centres and more than 300, if we consider major renovations.

Of course, the new hospital is the biggest healthcare project in Magnitogorsk. We are launching construction this year. It is a very important facility.

Vladimir Putin: Social facilities will continue to develop: kindergartens, schools, healthcare facilities and the new hospital. Of course, there should be more leisure facilities, for young people. We will visit one such place today. What do you call it?

Alexander Titov: Prityazheniye Park, meaning “magnetic”.

Vladimir Putin: Prityazheniye Park.

Olesya Simonova: May I?

Vladimir Putin: Yes, please.

Olesya Simonova: My name is Olesya Simonova.

Mr President, we have been discussing the city’s development and the iron and steel works. We do have things that we are proud of and can showcase.

Our region was one of the first in the country to start developing industrial tourism. Almost 70,000 people have already visited the plant. Alpine skiing resorts, Bannoye and Abzakovo, are located nearby, and are visited by many tourists.

Vladimir Putin: I did ski there.

Olga Simonova: Our hockey team, Metallurg, has also won the Gagarin Cup several times, so we get a large number of fans coming to our city. But the Magnitogorsk airport is quite small, and repairs to the runway have been delayed by two years. Our city really needs a large, modern airport. We hope this project can finally be completed soon. We ask for your support in resolving this issue.

Vladimir Putin: I know, we discussed this issue last time as well. In fact, on our way from the airport today, it was the first thing I talked about with the Governor. I am aware of the situation. The Governor says the runway has already been brought up to standard, but I have my doubts. Based on personal experience, I would say it is still far from meeting the required standards.

Unfortunately, the contractor failed to deliver on the original plans and scheduled work, and there are now ongoing legal proceedings related to that.

The state agencies believe the contractor still owes 600 million rubles. But to complete all the necessary work, including the runway and the surrounding area, we will need about 1.6 billion rubles, I believe.

Alexei Teksler: 2.6 billion rubles.

Vladimir Putin: 2.6 billion rubles. The funds have been allocated in the budget. The issue now is how the work is being managed. I will follow up on this personally. The Governor estimates completion by the end of 2027.

Alexei Teksler: That is for the terminal.

Vladimir Putin: Right, the terminal.

Alexei Teksler: The runway, or more precisely, the airfield…

Vladimir Putin: By the end of 2026.

Alexei Teksler: Yes, 2026 for the airfield, and the terminal will be completed in 2027.

Vladimir Putin: That is what is outlined in the official documents, at least. I will look into it further. I believe all planned work should be completed by the end of 2026. This will certainly be a big help to the city. It is a promising, dynamic place that is developing steadily.

Please go ahead.

Alexander Bolbashev: My name is Alexander Bolbashev.

My question is as follows: In the Government, I often hear discussions about increasing recycling fees on imported cars. It is clear why this is being done – primarily to protect the domestic market and to support domestic car manufacturers and production.

Vladimir Putin: You have revealed all the secrets. This is being done to address environmental issues.

Alexander Bolbashev: However, in practice, we see that the cost of cars is rising, both for imported and domestically produced vehicles, unfortunately. It is no secret that for young people, purchasing a car is becoming increasingly difficult.

Here is my proposal: perhaps it is worth revising support measures that would take into account the interests of car manufacturers, the state, and, of course, the end buyer – particularly us.

Vladimir Putin: Naturally, we have always done so. When inflation exerts slight pressure, creating problems, or when other issues arise requiring additional attention, the idea of supporting the automotive industry always emerges, including providing support to those purchasing vehicles – whether industrial enterprises, public transport, cities, municipalities, regions, or individuals.

Such programmes always exist, and work on them is ongoing. The Government is currently considering their implementation. We will certainly adjust the system – you have just mentioned private transport – to help people purchase cars and enable manufacturers to increase production, primarily of domestic vehicles. Of course, we will continue to do so.

Please continue.

Vladislav Plekhanov: Mr President, good afternoon.

It is a great honour for me to be here. My question is this: I recently got married, and I have a wonderful young wife…

Vladimir Putin: Congratulations.

Vladislav Plekhanov: But unfortunately, we are postponing having a child due to a lack of our own housing. We do not qualify for any…

Vladimir Putin: Excuse me, please. Getting married is good. But postponing having a child is a mistake.

Vladislav Plekhanov: So, I have a small proposal. Unfortunately, we do not qualify for any preferential programmes.

Vladimir Putin: Why is that? If a child appears, you will immediately qualify for benefits.

Vladislav Plekhanov: We want to have a child later.

Vladimir Putin: There are already certain support measures for the first child.

Vladislav Plekhanov: Yes, we know. Here is the proposal: would it be possible to slightly adjust the Young Family benefits programme and provide it, so to speak, in advance to young couples, with the prerequisite …

Vladimir Putin: You sly one – you have not even had children yet.

Vladislav Plekhanov: …that they have a child within the next two, three, or four years.

Vladimir Putin: One must first make an effort – why should the state provide support in advance? Once the child is born, then the state will step in to assist. However, to be candid and serious – and if we are to speak earnestly – we must acknowledge that the support measures we have introduced thus far, and there have in fact been quite a few, remain insufficient. The principal achievement to date is the establishment of a unified support system commencing from the birth of a child – indeed, from pregnancy itself – with various forms of assistance extending through to the age of 17. I will not enumerate all the elements now; they are structured by age brackets – under three years of age, and thereafter. Nevertheless, I believe this is not yet adequate, given the significant demographic challenges we face.

In fact, this situation is characteristic of all industrialised nations, where priorities inevitably shift – particularly those of women: education, further professional qualifications, and so forth. On average, women in our country have their first child at 28–29 years of age. They raise one child, and subsequently often find themselves lacking either the time or the strength to have a second or third. This is precisely why I responded as I did. It is unwise to await some kind of miracle.

And beyond that, you know what? There is no greater happiness in life than children. Indeed, they may well be life’s very purpose.

Vladislav Plekhanov: Thank you. We will take your advice.

Vladimir Putin: Please. I think your wife will support you.

What is next?

Vladislav Astakhov: Good afternoon, Mr President.

My name is Vladislav Astakhov.

We are all employees of the Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works, and we are, of course, deeply interested in the future development of the metallurgical industry.

How do you view the prospects for this sector? Specifically, how can we make it more attractive to young specialists?

Vladimir Putin: As you know, the industry is becoming increasingly high-tech. We have just toured the facilities with the company’s management, and I found their explanations interesting. Although I believe I already know quite a bit about this field, when they began to show what has been achieved – you can see it with your own eyes – and how production is evolving, it becomes clear that the level of technological sophistication continues to grow.

At one time, this enterprise employed nearly 100,000 people. Today, it employs about 17,000. New enterprises are emerging, requiring a new calibre of expertise and a different class of professionals. This also implies a different level of wages. The more highly qualified a specialist needs to be – because no one else can handle this work – the higher the pay. It is connected like a chain where each link reinforces the next. This chain is only getting stronger. That’s why, in my opinion, the industry will become increasingly interesting to young people.

Vladislav Astakhov: Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: Just look at that machine-building complex: cutting-edge production. Isn’t it impressive?

Denis Makeyev: May I ask another question?

Vladimir Putin: Of course.

Denis Makeyev: My name is Denis. I have a question about sports. I practice sambo. After my shift at work, I go to the gym, and many of my colleagues also do that. I would like to ask: do you think sambo will ever become an Olympic sport?

Vladimir Putin: You know, today we face many challenges in our relationship with the International Olympic Committee, beyond the ones you have mentioned. Overall, sambo is one of the few truly national sports. It was created in the Soviet Union, as you probably know, by blending various martial arts traditions from the peoples of the USSR. It is our own unique invention. here aren’t many ports like this that have managed to gain international recognition. Rhythmic gymnastics, for example, was also born in Russia, in the Soviet Union – just like sambo, along with a few others. At one time, the possibility of making sambo an Olympic sport was seriously considered. In fact, it makes sense to continue pursuing this, especially since we have excellent results and many world champions. I am sure that if sambo were included in the Olympics, our athletes would achieve remarkable results.

Today, sambo is being actively promoted in schools across the country. It is a very accessible sport, not only exciting but also highly entertaining, drawing a large number of fans. It is also affordable, unlike ice hockey, where you have to buy expensive gear, skates, and pay for ice time; or tennis, where even a single racket can be costly. I would very much like to see sambo athletes compete on the Olympic stage someday. Right now, our relations with the Olympic Committee are gradually improving, so we will think about resuming this discussion.

Vladislav Shchukin: Good afternoon, my name is Vladislav Shchukin. As you probably know, a wonderful new park called Prityazhenie (Attraction) recently opened in our city.

Vladimir Putin: We are going there now.

Vladislav Shchukin: I think that it is probably the largest park in Russia. At least it will be.

Vladimir Putin: We will consider it the largest.

Vladislav Shchukin: Yes, we will. Local children like this place very much because various festivals, along with the main events of our city are held there. There are also a lot of amusement rides.

What kinds of entertainment do you remember most from your childhood?

Vladimir Putin: My main hobby as a child was sambo. Later, our entire training group transitioned to judo. These two sports were my most serious hobbies and the main source of entertainment.

Vladislav Shchukin: Impressive hobbies.

Vladimir Putin: What sport do you do?

Vladislav Shchukin: I play volleyball.

Vladimir Putin: Excellent. Volleyball has truly become a dynamic and highly athletic sport. I am not sure why, maybe the rules have changed. he women play with such elegance, and the men demonstrate great skill and power. It is a beautiful sport, so, congratulations, you have made a very good choice.