The message reads:

Dear Tatiana and Anna Shipunov,

Please accept my deepest condolences for your loss.

Arkady Shipunov was an outstanding scientist and design engineer, and the founder of an authoritative school of systems design for high-precision missiles, small arms and artillery. He made ​​an enormous contribution to strengthening the defence of our country.

The Instrument Design Bureau, which he led for more than 40 years, has become one of the leading enterprises of the national defence industry, largely due to his professionalism and organisational talent.

The memory of Mr Shipunov will live on forever in the hearts of his colleagues, friends and students – everyone who knew this brilliant man.

Dmitry Medvedev