Vladimir Putin's address during the award ceremony:

Dear friends,
Esteemed award winners,

I am glad to be here, on the premises of a leading and celebrated enterprise in the Russian defence industry, to greet everyone who has gathered here today and to present government awards for scientific and technological achievements.

You have fulfilled the task appointed you by the State Armament Programme excellently. Your work is a significant contribution to national defence and to ensuring security for our citizens.

True to the traditions of the legendary Tula armourers, you have created not only technically perfect, but genuinely unique weapons, which meet today's demands and confirm Russian leadership in military research and technology.

As we all know, the defence industry has been one of the principal vehicles of economic, scientific and technological progress. The most daring and innovative ideas have always been born and taken shape in this industry. Your success shows once again what excellent human resources are concentrated in the defence industry.

I am convinced that this is Russia's greatest competitive advantage. It lays a firm foundation for the rearmament of the army and navy, as well as the modernisation of industry and the entire national economy.

That is why scientific and technological development is one of our top national priorities. The state will continue to give the issue the necessary attention.

I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. I firmly believe that you will not rest on your laurels, but will continue to work on even more ambitious projects.

I wish you all every success, and of course, new ideas and new, breakthroughs.

Good luck in all your endeavours.

Vladimir Putin: Once again, I would like to congratulate all those who received awards today. But not only you. I would also like to congratulate the entire staff of this enterprise. Though your [to the award winners] success is certainly your own personal achievement, I am sure that none of you will deny that it was made possible through entire staff's work, talent, and toil .

So I congratulate those who have received awards today, as well as all of the Tula armourers, for what they have done for their country. I hope they will do even more in the future.

Thank you for your dedicated work.