Officers appointed to senior command positions were presented and had their senior military (special) titles conferred at a ceremony held in the Grand Kremlin Palace’s St George Hall.

Vladimir Putin held a meeting with the permanent members of the Security Council, during which a detailed discussion on the situation in Ukraine took place.

In the course of his meeting with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, the President signed instructions to revive the Nakhimov Black Sea Higher Naval School and to recognise the military ranks and documents of military education of those Ukrainian service members who expressed their will to serve in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

Vladimir Putin signed Executive Order On Recognising as Valid the Military Ranks and Education Documents of Russian Citizens Who Are Military Service Members in the Military Administrative Bodies and Military Formations of the Republic of Crimea, and their Documents on Performing Military Service.

Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Putin has issued an order to the troops and forces that took part in the Western and Central Military District exercises to return to their regular dislocations.

The President was accompanied by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, Commander of the Western Military District Anatoly Sidorov and Head of General Staff Combat Training Directorate Ivan Buvaltsev.

Vladimir Putin submitted an appeal to the Council of Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.

Vladimir Putin congratulated veterans and the Armed Forces’ military and civilian personnel on the upcoming Defender of the Fatherland Day.

Vladimir Putin signed Federal Law On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation concerning the Activities of the Military Police of the Russian Federation Armed Forces.

Vladimir Putin signed a list of instructions following a meeting on developing the military education system, held on November 15, 2013.

As part of a working visit to Tula Region, Vladimir Putin visited the KBP Instrument Design Bureau, where he chaired a meeting on the work of the Advanced Research Foundation.

Vladimir Putin attended the farewell ceremony for the legendary small arms designer, a Hero of Russia, twice Hero of Socialist Labour, Lieutenant-General Mikhail Kalashnikov.

Vladimir Putin expressed deep condolences to the family and friends of Mikhail Kalashnikov on his passing.

Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu briefed Vladimir Putin via video linkup from Severodvinsk on the deployment of strategic nuclear missile submarine Alexander Nevsky by the Russian Navy.

Vladimir Putin spoke at the expanded meeting of the Defence Ministry Board devoted to the progress of military reform and the Armed Forces’ work in 2013.

Vladimir Putin hosted an official reception at the Kremlin to mark the Heroes of the Fatherland Day.

The President will give his overall assessment of the state of military reform and the Armed Forces’ work in 2013, and will outline the next basic steps in military development. 

Vladimir Putin signed Federal Law On Amendments to the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation.