Putin's seeming war cry

GETTY - CONTRIBUTOR

Vladimir Putin has warned Russian companies to be ready for war production

VLADIMIR Putin has told Russian companies they must be ready to switch to war production at a minute’s notice.

The Russian president was reported to have made the worrying comments at a meeting of military chiefs in Sochi, relating to the Zapad 2017 military exercises in September.

Speaking to the attendees, the Russian president said: “The ability of our economy to increase military production and services at a given time is one of the most important aspects of military security.

“To this end, all strategic and simply large-scale enterprise should be ready, regardless of ownership.”

Putin referred the attendants to what happened in 2015 when they “discussed the topic in detail”, according to the Moscow Times.

He said: “Instructions were given to modernise production facilities, build up reserves of material and technical resources and ensure the transportation of troops.”

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A BTR-80 amphibious armoured vehicle takes part in an exercise in September

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A Russian soldier takes aim with an RPG during September war games

The previous day, the president had spoken of a need to catch up and overtake the West in military technology, the Independent reports.

He said: “Our army and navy need to have the very best equipment — better than foreign equivalents.

“If we want to win, we have to be better.”

VITALY V. KUZMIN

The Uran-9 multipurpose unmanned combat vehicle was unveiled last year

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The Mi-28N gunship is armed with a 30mm cannon and guided missiles