Vladimir Putin flies with cranes - in pictures

Putin meets with scientists at the Kushevat ornithological station near the city of Salekhard in Yamalo-Nenetsky Photograph: Alexey Druginyn / RIA Novosti/EPA The Russian president sits in a motorised hang-glider at the Kushevat ornithological station Photograph: RIA Novosti /EPA Siberian white cranes stand near Putin's glider on the Yamal Peninsula before taking to the air Photograph: Alexsey Druginyn/RIA Novosti/Reuters Young cranes follow Putin's motorised hang-glider Photograph: Alexey Druginyn / RIA Novosti/EPA Putin flies over the Kushevat nature reserve Photograph: Alexei Druzhinin/AP