MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti political commentator Vasily Kononenko.)

President Putin's spectacular flight on a Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bomber from the Chkalovsky military airfield in the suburbs of Moscow to the Kola Peninsular has given much food for thought: Why is the president so interested in military hardware? And why are Russians holding unprecedented military exercises?

When people who know the structure and designation of an army answer such questions, they quote logical arguments. "The president is the Commander-in-Chief, and his direct responsibility is to personally inspect the army's technical equipment and combat readiness." This is the opinion of former Soviet Defense Minister Dmitry Yazov who is not favored by the current authorities, and could well afford to be critical. Opposition politicians say that "the president is having fun," or "playing a war game." This opinion clearly has a tinge of male envy.

Two opinions are poles apart. According to laws of physics they never come close but only drift further apart. In politics it is important to know what charge a certain politician carries, and if this is clear, it is not necessary to open a verbal package in order to get to the gist of his idea.

Not long ago an employee of the American Carnegie Endowment made a paradoxical conclusion that the Russian political system has become so disfunctional that Putin will be lucky if he keeps his power until the 2008 elections. In effect, the author has repeated the old tale about a "lame duck" in the Kremlin. In reality, politician Putin walks as an athlete, and has proved this once again.

During post-perestroika decline in Russia foreign commentators were going all-out to scare the world that huge Russia with nuclear warheads was dangerous because it was beyond control. By way of proof they showed life in poor provinces, starving army, protest marches of miners, scientists, and farmers who were not paid salaries, and pointed to the ageing President Yeltsin. At the same time they patted Russians on the shoulder, and praised them for having almost achieved democracy.

Much has changed in Russia in the last five to six years. On a par with stability and strong power vertical, Russia has acquired money part of which was spent by the military on truly unprecedented exercises. They will imitate one big war with the participation of the Northern Fleet and strategic aviation, and two local wars: A so-called peacemaking mission by a multi-national contingent in the Far East, involving 10,000 Russian and Chinese army servicemen, and an anti-terrorist operation in the Caspian Sea, in which secret services of Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Belarus will take part. Neither the United States, nor other NATO countries have ever staged such comprehensive maneuvers. Nor did even the Soviet Union.

It is only natural that the Commander-in-Chief wished to take part in the exercises. His way of getting from the Moscow region to the Northern Fleet was unusual but very fast. During its flight, the Tu-160 Blackjack launched high accuracy long-range X-555 cruise missiles designed for local conflicts and anti-terrorist action. The U.S. Air Force has similar missiles as well.

This demonstration of growing military power against the background of a steady economic advance is a source of irritation for many people abroad. The myth about a "lame duck" does not fit in into the context. Putin in a pilot's helmet at the wheel of a Tu-160 Blackjack with a blood pressure of 120 over 80, does not look one bit as a leader losing his power and political will. Standing on board the heavy missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, he demonstrates Russia's readiness to fight for the model of a multi-polar world. And he does look convincing.

For this reason we can forgive him his passion for military hardware. There are not many leaders in the world who can make extreme flights on supersonic fighters, or go down the sea on a submarine. Putin proves that Russia is moving in the right direction, and he is at the wheel as before.