Russian President Vladimir Putin test-drove a new Volga K50 SUV on Friday as part of a showcase for a revived Russian car brand. The drive took place in Nizhny Novgorod, at a plant previously operated by Volkswagen. The K50 is described as Volga's flagship model, based on Chinese technology and developed from a Chinese-derived platform.
Moscow has continued its bombardment of Kyiv, with strikes entering their third day on Saturday. During his visit to the Volga plant, Putin toured assembly lines and equipment, and signed the bonnet of a Volga K50 SUV. He also met Gleb Nikitin, the governor of Nizhny Novgorod, and visited the newly-opened Volga Arena sports complex.
Putin has previously shown interest in high-speed driving. In November 2010, then-Prime Minister Putin drove a Renault Formula 1 car at speeds up to 240 kph (150 mph) on a track in the Leningrad region, reportedly wearing a helmet and a jumpsuit with his initials. That event occurred a month after Russia signed a deal to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix in Sochi. The contract, initially extended to 2025, was terminated following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.