Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to Defence Minister Andrei Belousov and Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Ground Forces Andrei Mordvichev while inspecting equipment, as he arrives to observe the Russia-Belarus joint military exercises, codenamed Zapad-2025 (West-2025), at the Mulino training ground in the Nizhny Novgorod region, Russia September 16, 2025. Sputnik/Mikhail Metzel/Pool via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. Photo: MIKHAIL METZEL/REUTERS
Russian President Vladimir Putin observes the Russia-Belarus joint military exercises, codenamed Zapad-2025 (West-2025), at the Mulino training ground in the Nizhny Novgorod region, Russia September 16, 2025. Sputnik/Mikhail Metzel/Pool via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. Photo: MIKHAIL METZEL/REUTERS
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with service members and inspects equipment as he arrives to observe the Russia-Belarus joint military exercises, codenamed Zapad-2025 (West-2025), at the Mulino training ground in the Nizhny Novgorod region, Russia September 16, 2025. Sputnik/Mikhail Metzel/Pool via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. Photo: MIKHAIL METZEL/REUTERS
Russian President Vladimir Putin puts on thermal imaging goggles while meeting with service members and inspecting equipment, as he arrives to observe the Russia-Belarus joint military exercises, codenamed Zapad-2025 (West-2025), at the Mulino training ground in the Nizhny Novgorod region, Russia September 16, 2025. Sputnik/Sergei Bobylyov/Pool via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. Photo: Sergei Bobylyov/REUTERS