Putin turns 63: Russian President spends birthday playing hockey with NHL players and winning awards

Mr Putin scored seven goals and received a medal for his ‘contribution to hockey in Russia’

(EPA)

Vladimir Putin was apparently on a mission to prove he is still fighting fit at 63 by deciding to spend his birthday playing hockey with a team full of NHL players.

Just days after Russia’s military intervention in the Syrian conflict was confirmed, the Russian President led a match in Sochi against Russian officials and tycoons, including Gennady Timchenko and Arkady Rotenberg. Both were hit by sanctions from the West in 2013 after Mr Putin annexed Crimea.

Mr Putin scored seven goals and was handed a trophy at the end of the game - as well as a medal for his “contribution to hockey in Russia”, according to the Associated Press.

His celebrations came as Russia’s Ministry of Defence shared footage of rockets being launched from the deck of a warship targeting Isis positions.

Mr Putin's 62nd birthday was a much more low key affair spent in the Siberian wilderness, far from populated towns.