On Feb. 16, President Vladimir Putin paid a visit to the Chelyabinsk region where he held talks with workers and students at some of the major industrial firms there. He visited Uralvagonzavod (Ural Wagon Factory) and the Chelyabinsk Forge-and-Press Plant. Uralvagonzavod produces tanks, including the newer version of the Russian tank, the T-90. The same factory during World War II produced the famous T-34 tank, which went head-to-toe with the German Tiger tanks, and showed great success.
In his comments, Putin noted the advantage that Russia has gained from the trade restrictions imposed by the West. Now Russia must begin to produce the high-tech products that it previously imported from the developed countries, he said.
Russia can itself produce “everything high-tech” that it previously expected to receive “somewhere over the hill,” Putin said. The sanctions imposed against Russia by “quasi-partners” have only led to an increase in orders from Russian enterprises, “this is very impressive.”
