The Russian Prime Minister, Mr Vladimir Putin, whose hard line on Chechnya has won him wide support, showed more of his macho side yesterday, making a trip in a Sukhoi 25 assault jet of the type which has attacked the rebel region.
"It was quite a buzz," Itar-Tass news agency quoted him as saying after the aircraft landed. Mr Putin, an ex-KGB spy and former domestic security service head, donned a flight suit and helmet to spend 10 minutes in the air while the pilot executed a series of aerobatic manoeuvres at very low altitude and in poor weather.
Mr Putin paid a lightning visit to areas adjacent to Chechnya, where Russian troops have been fighting separatists for about a month, carving out a security zone in the north of the region.
His tough stance on Chechnya and his pledge to wipe out Muslim rebels have sent his approval ratings soaring and reinforced his image as a tough leader ahead of presidential elections next year.