Putin Makes 1st Regional Trip in 7 Months, Staging Kazan Walkabout
Updated
Updated · Meduza · Jun 17
Putin Makes 1st Regional Trip in 7 Months, Staging Kazan Walkabout
3 articles · Updated · Meduza · Jun 17
Summary
Kazan marked Vladimir Putin’s first trip outside Moscow and St. Petersburg in seven months, with the Kremlin leader appearing on the street during a two-day Russia-ASEAN summit visit.
Faridaily said Putin has sharply curtailed regional travel: from January through May he left Moscow only twice, both times for St. Petersburg, versus eight regional trips in the same period of 2025.
Agentstvo said the walkabout came as Putin faced falling approval ratings and battlefield problems, describing the public appearance as a tactic he has used when pressure rises.
Security remained conspicuous: Putin moved through the crowd with guards and camouflaged troops, while recent reports by iStories, CNN and the Financial Times said the FSO had tightened protection over assassination fears.