Putin Travels to Russia's Far East for First Time, Visits Greenhouse and Rides in 'Predator' All-Terrain Vehicle
Vladimir Putin may be in full presidential campaign mode, as he’s left seclusion in Moscow for a long journey to the eastern edge of Russia.
Knewz.com has learned the Russian president traveled on Wednesday, January 10 to Anadyr, the capitol of the Chukotka region. It’s his first trip there since taking power in 1998.
President Vladimir Putin made his first trip in office to far eastern Russia. By: MEGA
“The head of state will inspect a year-round greenhouse complex, talk to residents and meet with the governor in the city of Anadyr,” a Kremlin statement said via The Moscow Times.
The TASS news service snapped a photo of Putin inspecting tomatoes in a greenhouse. The Metro added he sniffed basil during the tour.
Vladimir Putin checked tomatoes in a greenhouse during his trip. By: Josephine Baron/Unsplash
Pool reporters say Putin drove around the province in an all-terrain vehicle dubbed “Khishchnik” which translates to “predator.”
Despite temperatures reaching a mere -13 degrees Fahrenheit, at least 100 people stepped outside to watch an evening motorcade with their leader. According to The Encyclopedia Brittanica, Anadyr has more than 11,000 residents.
Putin reportedly met with a “small circle” of people from a wide range of careers. The group included teachers, doctors, business leaders and veterans who fought in the war against Ukraine.
A text of Putin’s introductory remarks posted by the President’s website said the trip to Chuhotka was long in the making:
The area abounds in minerals and is, in many ways, crucial to ensuring national security and the development of logistics corridors that are extremely important not only for Russia, but for the whole world. I am primarily referring to the Northern Sea Route…
Certain communities in Chukotka are very important in this regard. These include Pevek and Anadyr, where we are now, and some of them are encompassed by a number of development programs for the Arctic and the Far East.
It’s not clear what the audience said during the discussion.
The last Russian President to visit Chuhotka was Dmitry Medvedev in 2008. Putin was Prime Minister at the time.
Dmitry Medvedev visited Chukotka as Russian President in 2008. By: Twitter/ Bo Mbindwane @mbindwane
Putin’s trip there could be a sign of increased travel around Russia as the presidential election taking place on Sunday, March 17 nears.
Anadyr is so far from Moscow that online map sites checked by Knewz.com could not provide directions to it. Metro noted it’s a mere 50 miles away from Alaska and shares a maritime border with the U.S. state.
The coastline of Chukotka Province, across the Bering Strait from Alaska. By: Alexandr Bormotin/Unsplash
Chuhotka province sits along the Bering Strait, with western Alaska on the other side.
The Daily Mail noted that Putin has not been in the U.S. since a summit meeting with President Barack Obama in New York in 2015.