Yury Trutnev: The final of the All-Russian military-tactical competition “Path of the Warrior” has started in the Arctic

Published on: 2026-09-07

Source: Government of the Russian Federation –

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The final of the II All-Russian Military-Tactical Competition “Path of the Warrior” has started in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. The decisive trials will take place from September 7 to 12 at the suburban complex “Yamal Park” in the Priural District of Salekhard. About 50 cadets will defend the honor of their regions – teams from the Volgograd and Tyumen regions, the Republic of Tatarstan, and the Chuvash Republic.

The competitions are held under the order of the Deputy Prime Minister – Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of Russia in the Far Eastern Federal District, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the “Warrior” center, Yuri Trutnev. They help to improve the training system and consolidate the knowledge and skills that cadets acquire at the center.

In his greeting to the participants, Yuri Trutnev emphasized their important role for the country’s future.

“A true warrior combines physical strength, professional knowledge, and an indomitable will, and mastering military skills requires complete dedication and discipline. It is precisely these qualities that we strive to nurture in the new generation of patriots who love their Motherland and know how to defend it. Today, more than ever, it is important to be ready for hardships, to be able to stand up for your loved ones and your country. The skills you acquire in the courses at the ‘Warrior’ center are an investment in your future and, of course, in Russia’s future,” noted Yuri Trutnev.

Hero of Russia, participant in the presidential program “Time of Heroes,” commander of the “Warrior” center Andranik Gasparyan gave an encouragement to the participants, urging them to believe in their abilities and to play fair.

“‘The Warrior’s Path’ is a landmark youth project that brings together young people from different regions of the country. Here character is forged and true leadership is tested in action. Here cadets demonstrate everything our instructors have taught them: endurance, willpower, and most importantly, the ability to work as a team, act as a single mechanism, and feel the shoulder of a comrade. Real victory is forged where a person overcomes fear and fatigue for the sake of the person next to them, so our competitions are, above all, about honest team play. I note that interest in the events is growing and more and more young people want to participate,” said Andranik Gasparyan.

The final stage was prepared with the support of the government of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug.

“It is a great honor for Yamal to host the final of the all-Russian competition ‘Path of the Warrior.’ Our region, with its changeable autumn weather and challenging terrain, is an excellent place to test character, endurance, and team spirit. The Warrior Center project develops practical skills—from medicine to drone management—and fosters true patriotism, a readiness to take responsibility for the country’s fate. I am confident that the finalists will demonstrate a high level of preparation, and the northern hospitality and our special atmosphere will remain in the memory of every participant,” emphasized Yamal Governor Dmitry Artyukhov.

The final program is as close as possible to combat conditions and covers all areas of training at the “Warrior” center. Participants will demonstrate their skills in firearms and tactical training, tactical medicine, drone operation, and sniping. Some stages include CBRN defense and engineering.

Teams of 10 cadets will enter the battlefield: a commander, a sniper, two UAV operators – one for an assault FPV drone and one for a reconnaissance drone (navigator), as well as shooters, including those assigned as a sapper and a medic.

The final test will consist of several stages. A draw will determine the pairs of opponents., who will meet in the semifinal matches from September 7 to 9.

On the first day, participants will have to make a forced march through rugged forest terrain covering at least 8 km, performing special tasks on the move. Along the route, cadets will face difficult moral and ethical situations where the life of a comrade and the outcome of the battle depend on their decisions.

On the second day, the teams will conduct reconnaissance and search operations over a vast area of more than 25 square kilometers. At the end of September 11 and 12, battles for the prize places will take place using laser tag equipment. On September 10, a friendly match will be held between the team from the branch in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug and the team of reserve finalist players.

A headquarters has been formed for fair judging and safety, consisting of about 80 people, including 20 field judges from 11 regions.

The progress of the battle will be monitored in real time from the air. The competition partner – the Kalashnikov Group – provided two SCAT 350M UAVs of the airplane type. The industrial drones conduct constant monitoring of the terrain, and GPS trackers on each participant will allow the headquarters to accurately track the movement of teams along the routes.

The “Warrior” Center was established by order of the President of Russia on December 1, 2022. Its mission is to train a new generation of patriots who love their Motherland and know how to defend it.

The center’s branches operate in all federal districts. These are 24 subjects of the Russian Federation, including historical regions. The center implements more than 50 unique educational programs based on schools, technical schools and colleges, and universities during extracurricular time in the following areas of training: tactical and firearms training, first aid and tactical medicine, use of unmanned systems, and sniping.

Since its inception, more than 165 thousand cadets have completed training at the center.

About 500 instructors are involved in training the cadets, including the Federation of Combat Sniping of Russia.

Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the information source. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.