Vladimir Putin spends birthday playing ice hockey with NHL stars
Russian president Vladimir Putin has spent his 63rd birthday on the ice, playing hockey with NHL stars against Russian officials and tycoons.
Earlier Mr Putin was debriefed by defence minister Sergei Shoigu about the Russian air force operation in Syria.
Shortly after that, Mr Putin and a team of Soviet-born NHL stars took on Mr Shoigu as well as other Russian officials and tycoons who are subject to Western sanctions over Russian actions in Ukraine, on the ice in Sochi.
The match was shown live on Russian television.
Mr Putin reportedly spent his birthday last year holed up in the Siberian wilderness far away from populated areas.
