On Thursday, President Vladimir V. Putin embarked on a brief flight aboard a supersonic bomber as part of his pre-election campaign to project strength and confidence within Russia.

This symbolic act served as a deliberate reminder to the West of Russia’s nuclear capabilities.

Lasting just 30 minutes, the flight involved the wide-wing Tu-160M, also known as the White Swan in Russia, with the capacity to reach the United States carrying two dozen nuclear weapons.

Russian state television showcased the 71-year-old President climbing the stairs beneath the colossal warplane, one of the world’s largest and heaviest, as it took off from an airfield in Kazan, located east of Moscow.

The Kremlin shared a video capturing Putin in the pilot’s seat during the flight, DNYUZ reported.

Upon landing, Putin expressed satisfaction, describing the experience as leaving a positive impression, and commended the newly modernized bomber for its reliability.

Dmitry S. Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesperson, informed state television that Putin’s decision to take the impromptu flight was made during his visit to an aviation factory in Kazan, where he inspected four modernized Tu-160M bombers.

Throughout his more than two decades as Russian president, Putin has gained a reputation for engaging in calculated publicity stunts, aimed at portraying him as a robust leader of a formidable nation.

Written by B.C. Begley