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The President visited one of the four schools built in 2019 under the Modern School federal project. This school offers instruction in both Russian and Tuvan languages and hosts various clubs and activities on Saturdays.

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Excerpts from transcript of the open lesson

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: I had the pleasure of visiting your new school, and I want to begin by congratulating you on this exciting milestone.

The school is impressive – modern and fully compliant with Russia’s high and ever-evolving standards. For Kyzyl, this is a significant educational institution. So, congratulations on your new school! I am confident that you will enjoy your time here, make new friends, and most importantly, gain knowledge at the highest level, as the teaching staff meets today's expectations.

I want to extend my congratulations to all the students, teachers, and parents across Russia as we begin the new academic year. This is always a significant event, not just for the students, but also for their entire families, especially parents and grandparents, and for everyone who dedicates their lives to education.

Teaching is a truly unique vocation. What does it mean to teach and to educate? It means dedicating a significant part of your life to others. It is not just a profession; it is, in many ways, a calling, something that defines the lives of most teachers and educators.

We owe a deep sense of gratitude to our teachers for all they do. They remain in our hearts, and we carry this appreciation with us throughout our lives, remembering them fondly from our school days and later in secondary and higher education facilities.

You attend a special school dedicated to the Heroes of the Fatherland. In this context, I want to highlight that Tuva is a unique region within Russia. Its distinctiveness stems from the fact that when Tuva was still an independent and self-sufficient state, it was the first country in the world to ally with the Soviet Union in the fight against Nazism, even before other nations joined. Just a few hours later, other countries, including Great Britain, announced their support for the Soviet Union in the fight against Nazi Germany.

It is important to recognise that the traditions established by our predecessors, our ancestors, grandfathers and grandmothers, are still very much alive and growing stronger today. For instance, around 10,000 residents of the Republic of Tuva are actively participating in the special military operation. By risking their lives and health, they are protecting each of you and the entire country. This is a shining example of patriotism and a continuation of our centuries-old traditions of deep devotion to our Fatherland.

Today, we must offer special words to the first-graders as they begin the school year, as this marks a significant turning point in their lives. Up until now, the world has revolved around them, but now they are stepping into a new phase where they have their own responsibilities. This is their first step into adulthood, where duties and obligations start to take shape. These initial steps are incredibly important.

I sincerely hope that the older students recognise this and offer their support to the younger ones. This support is crucial, as it forms the foundation for the rest of their lives. The kindness you show them today will leave a lasting impression, instilling a sense of gratitude that they will carry throughout their lives. In turn, they will learn to extend the same support to others when it is needed most. This is an essential aspect that strengthens our society as a whole.

Of course, our thoughts are with your peers in the Kursk, Bryansk and Belgorod regions, who, due to well-known circumstances, have to study online or in different groups. Rest assured, the country and our Armed Forces will do everything possible to restore normal life in these regions, ensuring a return to normalcy for these children. I have no doubt that this will happen.

That is all I wanted to say to start with. I am sure you have questions, comments, and perhaps some suggestions. Let us discuss them. I would like our conversation to be more of a dialogue between engaged participants rather than just a Q&A session.

So, let us get started. Please, go ahead.

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Vladimir Putin (commenting on the remarks by Danna Dulush, a student from Lyceum No. 15, regarding the development of tourism in the republic): Today, after this meeting, there will be another fairly large meeting to discuss the development of Tuva. The reason I came to visit you is not only because of the beginning of a school year, but also because this year marks the 80^th anniversary of Tuva becoming part of Russia.

We will also need to review the performance with the leadership of the republic and our colleagues from the federal Government and outline our plans.

Without a doubt, tourism is one of Tuva’s main attractions, if I may put it that way, because it can do much to promote economic growth. To put it plainly, without looking for words, Tuva is spectacular for its beauty.

As you are probably aware, I have visited here many times. This place is unique in terms of the culture of the Tuvan people, the breathtaking landscapes, the mountains, and the rivers… You know, speaking of beautiful nature, few places around the world can match Tuva, so tourism is definitely a promising area of focus.

Of course, just as in other parts of the country, and perhaps especially in Tuva, it is important to focus on what you just mentioned – tourist accommodations. Our hospitality programme to promote domestic tourism is extensive. Domestic tourism is expanding at an incredibly fast rate. The number of tourists who are now vacationing in Russia, including, I am sure, in Tuva, is multiples of what it used to be.

So, today we will discuss this and mark out a part of the national programme that will be dedicated to Tuva.

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Vladimir Putin (answering a question from Battaa Sanchat, a pupil from Gymnasium No. 9, whose dream is to make Tuva’s largest children’s camp, Bailak, a year-round facility, so that children from all over Russia can come and learn about the traditions and culture of Tuva): Places where young people – schoolchildren and university students alike – can spend vacations or undergo certain training abound, and their number keeps growing which is good. We will continue down that path going forward.

So, I promise that today when I discuss the development plan for Tuva with my colleagues, we will pay attention to this issue as well. I will issue instructions to the federal Government and the Executive Office to make sure that your proposal is included in the programmes for developing this type of activity.

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Bogdan Remarchuk: My name is Bogdan Remarchuk. I am ten years old. I live in the city of Kyzyl. I practice swimming, soccer, and boxing. My question is: how many hours of sleep and rest do you get to stay in such a good shape?

Vladimir Putin: I will not lie and tell you as it is, but it is not a good example, so do not follow my lead in this regard: I slept four hours last night. That is not enough. I usually sleep six hours. You should sleep well, at least eight hours. You are very active and do many sports, so you need to be in good shape. I need to be in good shape, too. The fact that I slept four hours today and usually sleep only six is not because I am such a busy person, but because I cannot properly organise my workday.

Everyone should be critical of what they do and of themselves and learn their lessons. I will try to do that, and I suggest you do the same, okay?

Bogdan Remarchuk: Yes.

Vladimir Putin: Agreed. All the best.

It is also a four-hour time difference with Moscow, so there is a jet lag. I will work to improve myself. We will do it together, ok?

Bogdan Remarchuk: Yes.

Vladimir Putin: How many hours do you sleep?

Bogdan Remarchuk: Eight.

Vladimir Putin: Good job. Keep it up.

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Alisa Novosyolova: My name is Alisa Novosyolova, and I am a cadet in the 82^nd platoon of the 11^th grade at the Kyzyl Presidential Cadet School. As a platoon commander, I pride myself on being both responsible and creative. In addition to being a professional dancer, I actively pursue other creative interests.

As a cadet, I deeply appreciate the significance of motivation and support, especially given the challenges of cadet life. During tough times, I find inspiration in the words of Alexander Suvorov: “A bad soldier is one who does not dream of becoming a general.” These words continue to motivate me.

I would like to ask: What motto or phrase gives you strength during difficult times?

Vladimir Putin: Reflecting on Suvorov, there is a notable expression that can be interpreted more broadly: “The bullet is a fool, the bayonet is a fine chap.” This means you must always stay prepared and ready for action, and success will follow. The confidence with which you speak and the evident internal motivation you display indicate that you are a true commander with a promising future ahead.

Alisa Novosyolova: Thank you very much.

Vladimir Putin: I wish you success.

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Vladimir Putin (responding to a proposal by Artyom Babushkin, a pupil from School No. 1 in Kyzyl, to organise a tour dedicated to the 80^th anniversary of Great Victory to key battle grounds such as the Battle of Moscow, Leningrad, Rzhev, Sevastopol, Stalingrad, and the Kursk Bulge): That is a great idea, just like the idea of establishing permanent children’s and youth camps.

This reminds me of the words Vladimir Vysotsky used to say in such cases: obviously, you read the right books as a child. This is an excellent proposal.

Such programmes are available now. We carry out such programmes jointly with Belarus and in our country. But, of course, since you mentioned this, this work should be continued.

You just mentioned your grandfather. You know, there is nothing more important or effective in raising a person, especially a young person, than the example of one’s own family.

You mentioned your grandfather. He was a submariner and served in the Interior Ministry. It looks like he shared a lot of stories with you, which stayed with you and have become part of your consciousness, your mentality. Without a doubt, we should know both our family history and our country’s history. We should be proud of our history, which we are, and we must constantly reinforce in our own minds the importance of what our people have achieved over a thousand years of history. This is crucial for the future.

This is particularly true of the people who are no longer with us, who defended sovereignty and independence during the Great Patriotic War, who are fighting neo-Nazism today, and opposing those who are staging coups in other countries and trying to suppress the people of a culture that is close to ours, and Russian speakers. This is vital for all of us, not the ones who are no longer with us, but for us living today and for the future generations.

All these events you mentioned definitely need to be promoted further which we will certainly do. I will make sure that you and your peers here in Tuva definitely take part in such events. I will also mention this to my colleagues from the Presidential Executive Office. I hope you and many of those present in this audience will be included in these programmes.

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Artyom Vorobyov: My name is Artyom Vorobyov. I am a student at School No. 7. I am also a member of the Youth Army and a commander of a platoon at my school. I have participated in two Zarnitsa 2.0 competitions and the regional stage of a first aid competition.

I plan to finish nine grades – I am currently in the ninth grade – and enter the Novosibirsk Cadet School and then enter the Novosibirsk Higher Military Command School and eventually join the Special Operations Forces.

I have a question for you, or rather, a suggestion. Our republic does not have proper facilities for training people who want to pursue a military career.

Vladimir Putin: Why? A cadet school opened.

Artyom Vorobyov: The cadet school, yes, but you have to get accepted there first.

Vladimir Putin: You need to put a little effort into it yourself.

Artyom Vorobyov: Well, yes.

It would be great to be able to take a one- or two-week, or one-month preparatory course for military service, either for a fee or free of charge, if provided by the state.

Vladimir Putin: I understand.

First, it is very commendable that you are thinking about this. It means that the influence of your family, the people around you, and the environment in the country and the republic is such that it encourages a young person like you to think about your future, particularly a military future, especially since you mentioned the Special Operations Forces. These are actually elite units. As someone who is very well aware of how our Special Operations Forces carry out their combat missions, I can tell you that whole books could be written about them, really. And I hope they will be written.

Here is what we should do. Starting this year, schools will be teaching the subject “Fundamentals of Security and Defence of the Motherland,” where many things, I hope, will be addressed in a consistent manner. However, if you feel that this is not enough, we have the Youth Army, and cadet schools are opening across the country.

As for secondary and higher educational institutions, the Defence Ministry and other security agencies determine the number of such institutions based on their needs to avoid overproduction of specialists and prevent shortages. However, you mentioned preparation for the military future. It seems that something is still not fully working here, something is missing.

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. I will definitely discuss this with my colleagues.

I want to congratulate you on your choice. It is an exciting field. In addition to inner motivation, courage, heroism, and readiness for self-sacrifice to defend the Motherland, modern Special Operations Forces are also about advanced technology. They use the most sophisticated means for conducting combat operations. So, of course, good preparation is mandatory. You need good intellectual and physical training, just the kind you have.

All the best.

Thank you for the idea.

Zhanna Kechil-ool: My name is Zhanna. I am 16 and an 11^th form student at School No. 1 in Kyzyl. I play basketball. It was my brother who introduced me to this sport. He was the captain of the basketball team in his school. He took me to his workouts, and I liked it so much that started playing basketball, too.

Today I am on the national basketball team of the Tyva Republic. I barely have time for the workouts and the school. This is why I would like to ask how you would spend your days if you were not president but an ordinary person.

Vladimir Putin: It is difficult for me to imagine what I would do if this were so.

Here is what I would like to say. I believe that it is important. The more you do, the better results you achieve and the more you succeed. Of course, you need to think rationally, manage your time and organise your work accordingly. But the more tasks you set to yourself, the more you can achieve. Do not be afraid to do this. You should continue to do what you are doing now. If you have no time for something, it means that you are doing everything right. Keep doing it. I am sure that you will gradually improve your schedule and highlight your priorities. But the more things you do, the sooner you will find the thing you would like to do for the rest of your life.

Zhanna Kechil-ool: Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: Good luck.

Eliza Chamzyrai: Good afternoon.

My name is Eliza Chamzyrai. I am 17, and I study in the 11^th form at School No. 2 in Kyzyl. I do sports, running and dancing.

The subject of the special military operation has a special importance for our region. It is a highly personal and important matter to me because my father is currently in the special military operation zone. Many other children present in this room have relatives there too, and my close friend lives in the Belgorod Region.

Of course, all of us want our country to win and all our relatives to return home alive and well. Our ethnic group has a notion of “hei-aht,” which can be translated into Russian as moral fibre or mettle. The stronger it is, the more courageous and brave you are. This is probably why many men, many soldiers from our region have gone to defend our Motherland, as you said.

There is a lot of conflicting information on the internet and numerous rumours about negotiations. I would like to ask you as the top person in the country: What is the real situation there? And what we, schoolchildren, can do to help apart from making camouflage nets and writing letters to the frontline?

Vladimir Putin: That is your inner state of mind which is the most important help and support you can provide, because your approach to what is going on is the foundation that underlies the unity of Russian society and buttresses our victories.

It is a fact that the residents of the Republic of Tuva are widely involved in the special military operation. I have mentioned it earlier today: almost 10,000 people [from Tuva] are the participants of the special military operation. Four Heroes of the Russian Federation are from Tuva. They are indeed heroes. There are not some honourable titles awarded for length of service. This title is awarded for personal heroism in the battle for Russia and for all of you, as I earlier said.

As you may remember, the early days of the special military operation saw endless provocations by our enemy and the coup in Ukraine, after which they began to crack down on everything that was in the least positive about our country. They started creating bases in Ukraine and suppressing all things connected with the Russian language, our culture, and historical memory. They used Ukraine to create an anti-Russian enclave, an anti-Russia and began to actually build foreign military bases in that country, among other things. To reiterate, they began to crack down on the people who wanted to have normal relations with our country.

We are protecting Donbass residents and our common future, the future of Russia, because we cannot afford to see hostile entities set up right next to us, entities that are hatching aggressive plans against our country and are constantly trying to destabilise it.

So, your near and dear, your relatives, your friends and acquaintances, older brothers, and fathers are working on the most important state mission of defending the Fatherland. This has always been the case in Tuva, way back since the Great Patriotic War. I said earlier that Tuva was the first country to ally with the Soviet Union in fighting Nazism. Today, we are fighting neo-Nazism together.

As for the peace talks, I have always said that we want to resolve all disputes by peaceful means. You are school students, which means that you are quite young. Still, you do read the news, and you know how it all started. The hot conflict started when our adversary refused to honour all the agreements which could have provided a pathway to a peaceful settlement in Donbass. They said that they would not abide by the Minsk agreements. In these documents, we agreed on ways of building our relations with Ukraine and within Ukraine with the people who have maintained their ties with our country, with Russia. However, they threw all these agreements away and started preparing military operations. Even before that, they undertook operations of this kind in Donbass many times. How did we respond? By defending people, our people living on this territory. Nevertheless, we were always in favour of settling this situation by peaceful means.

What is happening there today? Even under their own domestic law, the current authorities are illegitimate. They had to hold a presidential election, but did not do it, citing martial law, which runs counter to the Ukrainian Constitution.

What was the result? If the hostilities stop, the Ukrainian authorities will have to cancel martial law. And once they do it, they would have to hold a presidential election without delay. In fact, the current government is clearly not ready to go down this road, since they do not stand a chance to be re-elected. This is why they are not interested in ending these hostilities. It is for this reason that they staged this provocation in the Kursk Region and tried to do the same in the Belgorod Region where you friend lives. I think that this explains everything.

Their plan consisted of using these provocations to stop our offensive on the main theatres, in Donbass. But you know what came out of it. Of course, our people have been suffering and facing harsh challenges, especially in the Kursk Region. However, the adversary failed to achieve its main objective, which consisted of stopping our offensive in Donbass.

Moreover, we have gone far beyond moving the frontline by 200 or 300 metres per day. We have long gone past this point. The Russian Armed Forces have been seizing territories by the square kilometres, instead of just moving the frontline by 200 or 300 metres. This is what makes me confident that this provocation will fail. I believe that this would pave the way to a genuine commitment to peace talks and to resolving these issues by peaceful means, rather than paying lip service to talks. We have never rejected them. Of course, we will have to deal with the criminals who penetrated the territory of the Russian Federation – I am referring to the Kursk Region, and their attempts to destabilise our border regions in general.

Eliza Chamzyrai: Thank you for your answer.

Dan-Khaya Ondar: I am Dan-Khaya Ondar, 11^th form of Vocational School No.15.

I have loved History and English for a long time. I have won prizes at history and English language Olympiads and contests. I struggled with English in primary school but I gradually found the right approach, and I practice every day.

As I look at China’s policy and its relations with Russia, I wonder if Chinese will become as popular as English. Only European languages were previously taught at Russian schools. The Chinese language, which is absolutely different structurally, could provide a fresh start for Russians.

Vladimir Putin: You see, it is quite simple. Interest in a language and its popularity in the world depend on the role the country plays in a variety of spheres. This has to do with history and culture, of course. But it is the economy that is the main reason behind interest in a language, however strange this may seem at first sight. This takes us to science and education. All these things are closely intertwined.

Interest in the Chinese language is growing. Why is that? Because of numerous contacts, the development of businesses, and the growing number of partners between Russia and China. This is a natural thing. Our trade with China amounts to over $200 billion, or even $230 billion, according to other estimates. And its keeps growing. What does this mean? It does not only mean that more goods are transported from one country to the other or that we establish more joint research groups. It means that our people communicate with each other to address practical tasks they are facing and so need to learn each other’s language. Incidentally, interest in the Russian language is growing in China too, just as interest in Chinese is increasing in Russia. Young members of my family speak Chinese fluently.

But this does not mean that we should abandon our interest in English. English is a great language. It has given humanity a lot in terms of unifying knowledge, bringing people together in the sphere of culture, and much more. We will not abandon anything. There are no “hostile” languages or even hostile countries to us. There are only the hostile elites of some countries that have been fighting Russia for centuries – not only today – to weaken it. They think that it is too large, and they feel “threatened” by such a large country as Russia. They want to slow our advancement, to hinder it a bit, or possibly a lot. Some of them have spoken in public – I am not inventing this; it has been written in their books and articles – about splitting Russia into separate states.

Our relations with China are different. The People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation are allies in every sense of the word. First, we join forces in the economy, culture, and humanitarian ties. Language skills are in high demand. As China’s economy grows, and China’s economy does grow… As you may be aware, today, in terms of purchasing power parity, which means in terms of the size of the economy, China’s economy is number one economy in the world, with India coming second. Russia is in the fourth place. Most importantly, China’s economy shows higher growth rates than any other economies around the world. The gap between the Chinese economy and the economies of other countries, including the United States, will widen, at least in the near future, which is obvious.

Indeed, there is such thing as per capita income as well, which is also a solid indicator. In this sense, the United States is far ahead. China’s population is 1.5 billion people, and the United States has slightly over 300 million. Per capita income in the United States is higher, but the size of the Chinese economy is much bigger. The gap keeps widening meaning that the importance of the Chinese language will grow as well. There is no way to escape that.

However, when we think about this, we must not forget about the role and the importance of the Russian language primarily as a language that unites people of all ethnicities who live in the Russian Federation, and second, as a language that helps us communicate with other countries. Russian is the language of international communication and is one of the UN official languages. More than 300 million people around the world speak it, and we must do everything we can to keep up its level and status both within the country and with our closest friends, neighbours and allies, primarily in the former Soviet Union, but also with our core partners and allies, including a vast country that holds a lot of promise in terms of economic growth such as the People’s Republic of China.

However, this does not mean – I would like to revisit this point again – that you should abandon English. No, of course not. Even from the point of view of the economy – the Western economies are high-tech advanced economies, and we certainly have much to learn from them. Contacts are not really going anywhere. Their ruling elites are trying to isolate Russia, but everyone is clear that it is not working. Many people from these countries support Russia and our efforts to reinforce traditional values, and are also fighting in their own countries to preserve traditional values, such as family, healthy relations between our countries, and our respective traditions. We need all of that, these things are in high demand.

Keep studying English, do not drop it. However, if you spot the need to study other languages do so, do not stop there.

Dan-Haya Ondar: Thank you for the answer.

Tagir Shyvyk: My name is Tagir Shyvyk. I am a 10^th grade student at School No. 7.

I am deputy chairman of the Kyzyl Council of the First, an athlete and a Movement of the First activist. Judo and sambo are my favourite sports.

Vladimir Putin: We have something in common.

Tagir Shyvyk: Yes.

Two years ago, my father told me: come on, son, let me take you to judo. I agreed and went with him. When I entered dojo, I saw young athletes wearing snow-white armour that is kimono, judo uniform. I said to myself: I am going to be just like them. Two years later, thanks to my coaches and friends, I finally started taking first places in city and republican tournaments. I know that you also practice judo and sambo, and even hold the title of master of sports.

The sport taught me a rule that I use in my life: hold your defence and be the first to attack. It is almost the same as you: if a battle is unavoidable, be the first to hit.

I have a question for you: what rule from sport have you adopted in your life? What rule do you live by?

Vladimir Putin: You just mentioned sports that you and I enjoy. I really started with sambo, gained the title of Master of Sports of the Soviet Union, and then our whole group, including me, took up judo. I gained the title of Master of Sports of the USSR in judo as well.

Judo and sambo are exciting sports. They are similar, but rules are different, and so are the moves, takedowns, and submission holds. Judo has a very good rule: stay flexible whatever you do. This is a very good rule that applies to life in general. Occasionally, as I said, ‘the bullet is a fool, the bayonet is a fine chap,” you have to be ready for a bayonet attack and not be afraid of it and press forward, but often it is crucial to be flexible in order to win.

Tagir Shyvyk: What rule do you use?

Vladimir Putin: I just gave it to you.

Tagir Shyvyk: Flexibility?

Vladimir Putin: Correct. It is vital to be flexible in order to achieve the ultimate goal which is victory.

Tagir Shyvyk: Thank you very much.

Vladimir Putin: Good luck in sambo as well. Do you still practice sambo?

Tagir Shyvyk: Yes, I do.

Vladimir Putin: Good. Do you see how it is different from judo?

Tagir Shyvyk: Yes, there is a difference.

Vladimir Putin: These are very good sports, especially for young men, boys, and men.

Tagir Shyvyk: Especially for children.

Vladimir Putin: Team sports are very good, too. It is fun to watch basketball, football, and all other team sports for that matter. Here you have a team, and everyone is responsible for the overall performance of the team. However, when you step on the mat, the tatami, it is just you and your opponent, and everything depends on you personally which is very important for developing male character.

Tagir Shyvyk: Thank you very much.

Oyuuna Tomur-ool: My name is Tomur-ool Oyuuna. I am an 11^th border guard cadet class student at School No. 11 in Kyzyl.

I have been into singing, dancing and drawing since I was a young child.

Vladimir Putin: You see? And you say there are not enough institutions that provide patriotic training and preparation for future military service. There is even a border guard school. I did not even know that.

Oyuuna Tomur-ool: It is only at School No. 11.

Vladimir Putin: All right, all right. I got it. There are not enough of them. I got it.

Please go ahead.

Oyuuna Tomur-ool: I have loved sports since I was a young child. I also took up boxing and took part in many sports competitions and events.

Vladimir Putin: I am sorry for interrupting you all the time. You used to do boxing. Did you watch the Olympic Games and see a man who identified himself as a woman knock out a biological woman and broke her nose? What do you think about that?

Oyuuna Tomur-ool: I think this is not too fair with regard to the girls who have been training for these competitions for a very long time.

Vladimir Putin: I mentioned a short while ago that one needs to be flexible in order to win, but you are being overly flexible by saying “not too fair.” This is not fair at all. This is outlandish nonsense.

Oyuuna Tomur-ool: Indeed, it is unfair.

Vladimir Putin: Another Italian with a bushy beard said he now identified as a woman in order to beat up the man who broke the nose of the Italian female boxer.

They are killing women’s sport, just killing it. After all, any man can say he is a woman, just say so, and compete in any sport taking away every chance for women to take prizes, not to mention first places. But I digress.

Oyuuna Tomur-ool: I fully agree with you.

Vladimir Putin: I interrupted you. Please continue.

Oyuuna Tomur-ool: I took part in sports competitions such as Zarnitsa 2.0, Scout Trail, and the paramilitary relay race sponsored by the Border Guard Department of the Republic of Tyva.

My peers and other young people are choosing vaping over a healthy lifestyle which upsets me.

Vladimir Putin: Are you talking about electronic cigarettes?

Oyuuna Tomur-ool: Electronic cigarettes, yes. It really upsets me.

I suggest raising taxes on vape smoking devices and use the proceeds to build athletic spaces for all of us.

Vladimir Putin: You are rightfully concerned about the young people using vaping devices, or e-cigarettes. There is a lot to worry about, and I have something to share about it.

Speaking of sports, in order for a person to achieve results in life in general, one definitely needs to engage in physical activities and sports regularly. Modern research shows that being active also improves cognitive abilities. A person is unlikely to be fully operational and efficient, or to achieve major results if he or she does not engage in physical activity at all. The organism is one whole thing, and physical activity is connected with brain activity, so being active is mandatory.

Over the past three years, I think, the number of people who do sports went up by 16 percent from 40 to 56 percent. But this is not enough. We need at least 70 percent of Russians to be regularly active by 2030. We are trying to encourage our people to exercise regularly.

We are about to introduce a rule where, if a person successfully passes the standard GTO physical fitness test and takes medical check-ups on time, he or she will be entitled to tax breaks. We keep building more sports facilities across the country, 350 sports facilities a year, and their construction is funded from the federal budget only. In principle, these are good programmes.

But, of course, we need to be motivated in order to engage in physical activity and an understanding of the bad habits’ consequences. Young people particularly are known for not thinking about this. They think smoking e-cigarettes is the thing and it is cool. No one is thinking about the problems, first, with memory, overall physical condition, and immunity. Strange as it may seem for the electronic cigarettes, but they tend to carry various pathogens to the lungs which undermine immunity. Importantly for the young people, the reproductive function is affected, and they may have problems having children in the future. These are very serious matters. But when young people think vaping is cool they tend to forget about the consequences, but they need to know about them and be mindful of them.

Do we need to increase taxes? We have been increasing taxes for, I think, two or three years in a row now. You know, tax increases and bans always come with limits.

In the Soviet Union, there was a saying, “grab and keep out” meaning to ban, to suppress. Some things may need to be made illegal, but there is always a line, and once crossed these bans are no longer valid. Electronic cigarettes will appear and have already appeared in large quantities via black or grey markets, are not taxed, and are produced illegally.

Unfortunately, at some point our country launched a crusade on alcohol and cut down all the vineyards, which led to a spike in moonshining and people drinking all sorts of denatured alcohol unsafe for human consumption. The number of lethal outcomes soared. This should be a comprehensive approach. First, the bulk of this work consists in making clear the consequences. We need to make healthy lifestyles and regular physical activity fashionable and cool.

The young man who is sitting in front of you said that he is doing sambo and judo and started taking the first places. That is cool. It takes focus and willpower. It requires proper organisation skills and self-improvement. And the result is coming out a winner in a fair competition.

Lighting up an e-cigarette is easy. How is that heroic?

Oyuun Tomur-ool: It is not.

Vladimir Putin: It is not, indeed. It is just a chance to show off and let everyone know how cool you are. You are cool if you go to a tatami, or a wrestling mat or a basketball court and win. Now you are cool. But what is cool about taking out and smoking a cigarette? Nothing. You lose on all counts.

We just need to explain and show these things at youth events, youth camps, the Movement of the First, the Youth Army and so on, including at schools, too, but to do so in style, competently, clearly and convincingly. Then you will be successful.

Oyuun Tomur-ool: Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you for your question.

Lev Antonov: My name is Lev Antonov. I am an 11^th grade student of Lyceum No. 15. I am 17 years old. I do sports and participate in Olympiads, scientific and practical conferences, and paramilitary relay races.

I am the president of my school. In my election campaign, I made many promises. Last year, I was not able to deliver on just one promise which was to hold a sports competition between schools. I hope this meeting will encourage the directors and presidents of other schools to support me, and we will finally hold it.

As president, I have a question for you, Mr President. Is there anything from your election campaign that you did not have a chance to fulfil, and if so, how are you going to fix it?

Vladimir Putin: There are always things to strive for. A person should always feel that he or she has not done something or could have done a better job. If you do not have that feeling, you need to stop doing what you are doing.

You see, there may not be a perfect situation. There cannot be a situation like in the famous line “Stop right there, the instant, you are beautiful!” Instants may be beautiful, but things can be even better. If there is an inner striving to achieve more, a better result, then there is a chance to do it and achieve it.

Of course, as a responsible person who makes promises, you must think before making one to make sure you can deliver on it. I hope this will be the case with you.

We just talked about the vaping devices (or whatever they are called). And you are now talking about competitions. These things are related. You need to make sure that winning a competition is cool, so that other people can take pride in it, and young people who achieve these results are called heroes, rather than those who take a drag on a cigarette and are then unable to remember what happened yesterday, their dad’s name, or cannot have children. You see? They do not have anything left to achieve that and they lost everything before they could have it. On the contrary, sport provides opportunities for growth, creates basic conditions for advancing in other areas. And, of course, if you promised that you would organise such competitions, you should do it.

Lev Antonov: Thank you for your answer.

Vladimir Putin: Go ahead, please.

Arina Popkova: My name is Arina Popkova, I am 14 years old, I am a 9^th grade student at Lyceum No. 15.

I have been participating in various conferences, Olympiads, competitions since my junior school, and I also study very well at school. In my free time I do yoga, I also like travelling around Russia with my family. I have been to different cities: Sochi, Moscow, Irkutsk, Novosibirsk and Abakan.

Vladimir Putin: Where did you like most?

Arina Popkova: I liked Sochi most of all.

Vladimir Putin: Warm and beautiful.

Arina Popkova: Yes.

My father also returned recently from the special military operation. Servicemen have two regular leaves per year. Each time he arrives, we go somewhere to travel. Not long ago we went to Krasnoyarsk by car. It took us about 10 hours. Usually, we travel by plane, but air tickets become more and more expensive every year, particularly from our republic, and we have no railway.

Mr President, I have a question: will the construction of the railway from other regions to our republic be continued?

Vladimir Putin: We have grand plans of railways development and, primarily in so-called Eastern Operating Domain – this is everything that is generally related to the development of transport, including railways in the direction of Asian markets, because, as I said when answering the previous questions, trade is growing, and there is not enough carrying capacity. So, we will absolutely do this. I know that there were certain plans for the so-called Kyzyl-Kuragino railway. Unfortunately, it is not being developed properly, not least because those who originally planned it wanted to turn it into a purely commercial project without connecting this line to populated areas.

However, the republic’s leadership is insisting on having this project implemented specifically and above all in the interests of the people living in different communities and cities of the republic. So, we do have such plans. Hopefully, all of them will be implemented.

As for air travels, we are constantly developing processes related to subsidising transport, especially from Siberia and the Far East to the European part. I will not list everything now, but this applies to various categories of our citizens by age group, this applies to certain periods, certain months of the year. We will go on expanding this programme. And of course, we will keep Tuva in mind.

Arina Popkova: Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: And the thing that you travel with your father around the country is really great. Is he here now or has he left?

Arina Popkova: No, he is still here.

Vladimir Putin: Say hello to him.

Arina Popkova: All right.

Vladimir Putin: How is he doing?

Arina Popkova: He is doing well.

Vladimir Putin: Doing well. A man has returned from the combat zone and is doing well. It means that all of us will also be doing well.

Arina Popkova: Thank you.

Georgy Alekseyev: I am Georgy Alekseyev, a cadet of the Emergencies Ministry class at School No. 1 in Kyzyl.

I have been doing army hand-to-hand combat for eight years now. I have recently met the standard for the first adult category. My passion for sports was noticed in the 7^th grade by my teacher Denis Popugalov. He helped me develop my abilities in terms of military training. Why military training? Because he began to take me to militarised Spartakiad competitions and even appointed me commander of some units.

Before that, I did not think about what profession I would have. But after my mentor started inviting me to various competitions, I started to think about profession and decided that I want to enter the Novosibirsk Military Institute of the National Guard Troops. According to stories of my friends who are already serving and studying there, elite special forces come there every year and select students. I set my sights on it. I want to join the Alpha special forces unit.

I have a question for you: what contributed to your choice of profession?

Vladimir Putin: And what about yours?

You know, it is a truly complicated question. It is related to the environment we live in, to school and people around us; with literature, books that we read and films that we watch; with the general mood in the society.

I grew up in a simple family, but in an environment that was very patriotic. My father fought in the Great Patriotic War, and my mother lived in the besieged Leningrad with a child. All my relatives were, one way or another, involved in the Great Patriotic War. They were common people but they had a core. All of this together – school, literature, and family – helps form our worldview. It looks like it helped me, too.

In the end, I also had a burning desire to do it and decided that I wanted to be a military man. At the outset, I wanted to work in the foreign intelligence of the Soviet Union. And that is what happened. I do not know if it was by chance, as we say, “God made it happen,” or if it was just fate.

Apparently, it is the same for you. You have just told me about your teacher, who noticed you, your leadership qualities and abilities. I believe it was no accident that he offered you to lead certain teams and so on. All of this has shaped you.

The same things shaped me and are shaping everyone else present here, or in fact, every person. When we talk about strengthening our traditional values, it is of great importance for the future of our state, because it shapes the kind of people you become.

I would like to congratulate you on this choice. If you have made such a serious choice, this means that your entire previous life was right in terms of molding your character and attitude to life, your family, and your country.

Servicing in a unit like special operations forces (Alpha is one of them) is, of course, special service; and it concerns not only love for the Motherland and your family, but readiness to fight for what you dedicate your life to, to the end.

Georgy Alekseyev: Thank you very much.

Vladimir Putin: You have to be mentally ready for it.

Georgy Alekseyev: I would also like to thank my teacher for leading me to the right choice.

Vladimir Putin: I wish you success.

Georgy Alekseyev: Thank you very much.

Veronica Darziyeva: My name is Veronica Darziyeva, I am an 11^th form student of School No. 15.

From childhood I have always been keen on technology. As a result, I worked out my own website, and in the 10^th form I won many awards and nominations at scientific conferences. When we received a link to such application as Sferum, which is intended for school communication between pupils and teachers, I immediately got interested in that platform’s functions and possibilities.

Since I am a would-be software developer, I understand that this service may be improved. As Russia is a country of opportunities, I want to find out about these opportunities so that using them I could track all the Olympiads and events happening in our region or country in order to choose something to my interests, get registered, file an application and take part in such events to test myself.

Vladimir Putin: Platform Sferum was developed in our country, if I remember it right, at the end of 2021, and it has almost 25 million users. They are school and college students and teachers. It was created to address the issues you just mentioned.

In general, IT sphere is a most important area handled by the state, because the future of our country undoubtedly depends on how effectively we work in this area.

I should say that we are working here well enough. Take one example, application of IT-technologies in state administration is one of the brightest areas even compared to our competitors. But we certainly need to make sure that almost 100 percent of public services in the coming years are provided electronically.

Actually, those who work in IT-technologies know that in this area the state provides a number of benefits for it to develop most rapidly.

They have zero income tax, for instance, until the end of this year. Since 2025, it will be a bit higher, but it will only be five percent. These are very beneficial conditions for this activity. Those who are engaged in this sphere enjoy soft loans on mortgage, not more than six percent, and so on. They have a very large set of support measures for the entire sector.

However, it should be done so that there is a one stop shop. If there is no such opportunity, I will certainly talk to my colleagues, including my colleagues in the Government, in the Ministry of Digital Development, and I will definitely talk to Maksut Shadayev [Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media], then we will need to pool our efforts on giving the users of that platform an opportunity to receive all the information they need, including information on what is going on in that area, so that they can take guidance and participate in the events that you have just mentioned. We will certainly do it.

Veronica Darziyeva: Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you.

It seems to me that we should definitely wrap it up already.

Lyubov Ichin-Norbu: Mr President, the kids asked for a photo with you. May they?

Vladimir Putin: Yes, with pleasure. Let’s do it.

Thank you very much for the conversation. That’s the first thing.

Second. As far as I understood, you represent different teams from all over the republic, so I have a big favour to ask of you – please convey my best wishes and the wish of success to all your friends, all the students.

Once again, greetings on the start of the new academic year.