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Before the plenary session, the President met with Everything for Victory! forum activists of various professional backgrounds who gathered in Tula to discuss ways to support the special military operation.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Friends!

I am delighted to welcome the participants and guests of the Everything for Victory! forum.

The city of Tula, which is one of Russia’s historical arms manufacturing centres, has brought together representatives of our defence plants, public organisations, as well as entrepreneurs, doctors, frontline reporters and volunteers – everyone now carrying out the most complicated, unconventional and often dangerous missions. They are putting in enormous efforts to supply effective modern weapons and equipment to the front, to build fortification lines, and provide soldiers with protective equipment. They are inventing new means of electronic warfare and, in general, supplying our fighters with everything they need in combat conditions.

They put their whole hearts into helping our men who are waging a sacred and just battle against the latest edition of neo-Nazism, fighting for Russia, for truth, for freedom, and for the future of our country.

At a recent meeting with the forum’s activists, we talked about the crucial role played by a strong home front, the sustainable operation of the defence industry and the economy in general, and the consolidation of society to strengthen the country’s defences and sovereignty.

I would like to once again thank Tula’s arms manufacturers and everyone engaged in creating a powerful and reliable “shield of the Motherland” for their intense, heroic efforts, without exaggeration, and for the worthy results they have achieved.

You have heard me say it before and I would like to say again that our defence enterprises, research institutes, and design bureaus achieved breakthrough results during the special military operation. I would even say, without any exaggeration, they have committed an outstanding feat of labour.

You – I am addressing all Russian defence companies’ employees – have proven that you are worthy descendants of our great forefathers, the workers of Kuzbass, Magnitka, Moscow, Tula, the Urals, Kazan, and besieged Leningrad. During the Great Patriotic War, in the most challenging circumstances, they won the industrial battle against Nazi Germany and, effectively, against the entirety of European industry which was then working in the service of Nazi Germany. Our entire country, our united people including children and old people, were behind the Victory of 1945.

Today is the Day of Military Glory of Russia. We mark the 81^st anniversary of the Nazi defeat in the Battle of Stalingrad. The heroes of this battle on the Volga River included engineers and workers from the Stalingrad Tractor Plant, and Krasny Oktyabr and Barrikady plants, among others. They were repairing tanks and armoured vehicles under a steady barrage of enemy fire and bombing. They continued to produce ammo until the fighting literally reached the factory floors.

You know, a fact that hits close to home as someone from Leningrad who was born in that city has come to my mind. At some of our plants, like the Putilovsky Plant, when the enemy approached the workshops, the workers would grab rifles or assault rifles and go fend off the attacks. After the enemy was repelled, they went back to their machines and resumed work. That is how they worked. Can anyone defeat a nation like that? Never.

Our defence plants are working in three shifts without interruption. Production of fundamentally new equipment is being launched. The output keeps growing day after day, week after week, month after month. Some numbers have grown not by percentages, but by multiples in just one year.

We have just spoken with your colleagues who are sitting in the front rows, and I have already provided these figures. I will repeat them now. But first, I would like to say once again to the workers of the defence industry: you have carried out the orders of the Motherland, and I thank you for that. You have not let down your comrades-in-arms, those who are currently fighting on the front lines, protecting Russia's borders and skies, keeping watch in the world's oceans, and ensuring the inviolability of our strategic nuclear missile potential.

I would like to note that since the beginning of the special military operation, there has been a significant increase in the delivery of various types of drones and artillery ammunition to the troops. In terms of individual armour protection, as I mentioned earlier, there has been a tenfold increase. For automotive equipment, the increase has been sevenfold. And for tanks, there has been a fivefold increase, which is quite impressive. For IFVs and armoured personnel carriers, the increase has been more than 3.5 times. All of these increases have been several-fold.

The state defence order is now practically 100 percent fulfilled. I am confident that we will maintain this high standard in the future, especially since the state defence order for 2024 has been significantly increased once again and, I would like to emphasise, is fully funded. I have no doubt that it will be successfully fulfilled.

I would like to highlight separately that today our strategic nuclear forces have been almost completely modernised, by 95 percent. Their maritime component has been almost 100 percent renewed. This provides a solid, reliable foundation for our strategic security. It is a reliable homefront, both literally and figuratively speaking. We will achieve the same level of success in equipping the army and navy with a full range of conventional weapons, including promising new-generation models. And we will definitely implement these plans together with you.

This will ensure that our enterprises and design bureaus have guaranteed contracts for years to come, allowing production facilities and assembly lines to be fully engaged, updated, expanded and modernised. Qualified personnel and talented young specialists will be in high demand.

Furthermore, the contribution of the defence industry will continue to grow, benefiting the development of the country as a whole, as well as our cities and regions. It will contribute to the implementation of strategic tasks aimed at revitalising the economy, transportation, industry, fuel and energy complex, social sphere and healthcare, and help boost high-tech exports.

According to the 2023 results, in the conditions of the special military operation, when the production of military equipment was prioritised – once again, I would like to return to our meeting with my colleagues who are sitting in the front row – the output of civilian equipment at defence industry enterprises increased by almost 30 percent, specifically 27 percent. The increased capacity of our enterprises enables us to successfully accomplish this task as well.

This is also important, if not the most important task. Our economy’s sectors now require new domestic machine tools, instruments, equipment, advanced materials, and the defence industry is capable of providing these at a mass production level.

In this regard, I would like to emphasise that during these challenging two years, one and a half years to be precise, not only has our military-industrial complex survived and shown its quality, but the entire economy has demonstrated stability. It withstood unprecedented external pressure and continues to develop confidently. As you know, there were predictions of recession, failure and collapse. There were claims that under the pressure of sanctions we would retreat, surrender and fall apart. I would like to make a well-known gesture, but I will not do it as there are many young women present here. Our opponents will not succeed. Meanwhile, our economy is growing, unlike their economies, and today it has become the largest in Europe, ranking number one in Europe. In terms of purchasing power parity and the volume of the economy, it has become the first in Europe and the fifth in the world. And this process will continue to gain momentum.

All our industrial enterprises, manufacturing industries and the construction sector contributed to this achievement, as did our engineers and scientists who provided original technological solutions within a short period of time. Agricultural workers have been achieving record harvests year after year, ensuring our self-sufficiency in all necessary basic foodstuffs. Workers in the social sphere also make a huge contribution to this work, including school teachers and university professors. As I mentioned earlier, when I recalled those who treated us differently: battles are won not only on the battlefields, but also by school teachers and priests. Education plays a vital role. Our teachers, school teachers and university professors make a huge contribution to the common cause of victory.

Additionally, our doctors, and nurses who work in all regions of our vast country play a crucial role. Just now, a medical worker from Donetsk shared with us the conditions under which they work there. What can we say? Both at that restricted format meeting and now, in front of a bigger audience, I want to say: all we can and must do is bow low to these people, who perform their duty, and who do it so courageously, so conscientiously in the harshest conditions imaginable. There is nothing more to add. (Applause.) They care for the sick, helping our wounded soldiers and officers.

The volunteer movement plays a major role in fostering unity and consolidation in our society today. I would like to sincerely thank all the citizens of our country, as well as the volunteer associations that support the front and help our fighters, including through the Popular Front: Everything for Victory! foundation. Thank you very much.

Someone has just said that the entire country, ordinary Russians, have contributed 1,000 rubles each. This amounts to a total of 11 billion rubles collected for the needs of the army, for the needs of the front. (Addressing Yelena Zubun, one of the forum activists participating in the meeting.) Eleven billion, right? That is what you said. A thousand rubles each. The entire country is involved.

With this money, we could purchase thousands of additional drones, radio stations, bulletproof vests, first-aid kits, and other essential items needed by soldiers on the frontline, and deliver them to combat units. But that is not even the point. Plants are boosting output, as we know; they are working hard. It is about this unity and determination to do everything for victory, everything for our men who are risking their lives on the frontline. This is what matters most. This is what will ensure our success. I have no doubt about it.

Such sincere support from people in different regions of our multinational country is truly invaluable. It boosts the morale of our fighters. They know that we believe in them and are eagerly awaiting their victory.

Friends,

The defeat of Nazism and the Great Victory provided us with an example of unwavering unity between the frontlines and the home front. Leading companies and entire cities were honoured with state awards for their heroic work during the Great Patriotic War.

We will undoubtedly cherish these traditions, our memories and our pride. It is symbolic that the cities of military glory and labour valour stand next to the hero cities [of the Great Patriotic War].

Today, I would like to inform you that Russia has established a new state award – the Order for Valiant Labour. It will be bestowed upon individual employees and teams for their significant achievements over many years.

In fact, the first Order for Valiant Labour will be awarded at this forum today, to the Tula NPO SPLAV company, a leading Russian developer and supplier of multiple launch rocket systems, the successors of the legendary Katyushas. These systems are now used as one of the main strike weapons in the special military operation. They include the famous Grad, Uragan, Smerch, Tornado, remote mining systems and heavy flamethrower systems – which are very effective – as well as dozens of types of rockets.

SPLAV is operating at full capacity and has significantly increased the output of its products. I would like to congratulate the staff on this well-deserved award.

In addition, I have signed an Executive Order amending the statutes of five Russian orders. These include the Order of Alexander Nevsky, the Order of Naval Merit, the Order of Honour, the Order of Pirogov, and the Order of Merit in Culture and Art, which will now be awarded to individuals or professional teams. These awards will be presented to cultural and healthcare institutions, defence plants and research centres for outstanding achievements and exceptional performance results.

I wish success to all the forum participants. I would like to thank all these united people, workers and volunteers for their support.

We are a united and consolidated nation. I have said this many times. We are self-confident and self-reliant. This is the key to our success and our victory.

(Award ceremony.)

General Director of the Alexander Ganichev NPO SPLAV Group Rinat Idrisov:Mr President,

On behalf of the entire NPO SPLAV team, which includes thousands of designers, technologists, workers and managers, I would like to thank you for the high recognition of our work.

It is a great honour and an equally high responsibility to be the first company to receive such a high award. I am confident that it is not only a recognition of our work, but also a recognition of all defence companies in the Tula Region. Tula is rightfully proud of being called the defence capital of Russia.

I also believe that it gives credit to the hundreds of our partner companies across Russia, which help SPLAV forge our Motherland’s shield and sword. We promise to continue our dedicated efforts to increase our country’s defence capabilities, and ensure that our army and navy have everything they need for victory.

Thank you very much.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you. Good luck to all of us. All the best. Once again, congratulations to the award recipients.