Vladimir Putin had a working meeting with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.

Vladimir Putin continued a series of meetings with Defence Ministry and General Staff officials. The latest meeting addressed key areas of development for the Strategic Missile Forces.

Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces Vladimir Putin arrived in Krasnodar Territory where he personally observed large-scale military exercises in the Black Sea region, the launch of which he ordered the previous day.

Vladimir Putin paid tribute to the memory of fallen soldiers, laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin Wall.

During a meeting yesterday, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov submitted Russia’s Defence Strategy for the President’s approval. Other issues discussed included the naval exercises with strategic aircraft and a new servicing system for weapons and military equipment.

Vladimir Putin visited the Severomorsk naval base of the Northern Fleet, where he presented the Order of Nakhimov to nuclear-powered missile cruiser Pyotr Veliky.

Vladimir Putin held a briefing session with permanent Security Council members, addressing current socioeconomic issues on the Russian domestic agenda, as well as international issues.

Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Sergei Ivanov presented Andrei Vorobyov as Acting Governor of the Moscow Region to members of the regional Government and the heads of several municipalities.

Vladimir Putin held a briefing session with permanent members of the Security Council to discuss the current socio-economic situation in Russia and international affairs. The meeting’s participants also congratulated Sergei Shoigu on his appointment as Defence Minister.

Mr Shoigu proposed Valery Gerasimov as the new chief of the General Staff of Russia’s Armed Forces.

During his meeting with Sergei Shoigu, Vladimir Putin, announced his decision to release Anatoly Serdyukov from his duties as Defence Minister and appoint Sergei Shoigu to the post.

The main subject of discussion at the meeting, which took place late the previous evening, was regional development, especially forest protection and developing small aircraft.

Vladimir Putin instructed Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Sergei Ivanov, together with the Moscow Region Government, to implement legal and organisational measures concerning approval of urban zoning and development documents and setting the territorial boundaries and protection zones of a number of cultural heritage sites.

Vladimir Putin held an extra-mural meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Russian Geographical Society on Valaam Island.

Vladimir Putin congratulated Sergei Shoigu on officially taking office as Governor of Moscow Region.

Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu briefed Dmitry Medvedev on the efforts underway at the crash site. Mr Shoigu said that the Emergencies Ministry has sent a plane to the site in order to bring the injured to Moscow hospitals if need be.

The party leaders presented to Dmitry Medvedev their lists of candidates for the governorships of Moscow, Omsk and Saratov regions.