Inside Vladimir Putin's Elaborate Security System: From Waste Collection to Anti-Drone Technology

Russian President Vladimir Putin travels with an elaborate "security web" that follows him everywhere. He is scheduled to visit India on December 4-5 for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's invitation, marking his first trip to India in four years.

Putin will engage in bilateral discussions with PM Modi and meet with President Droupadi Murmu during his stay. His security detail consists of meticulously selected guards who must meet stringent requirements regarding age, height, physical and psychological fitness, loyalty, and must pass comprehensive background investigations.

Here are 10 fascinating aspects of Putin's security apparatus:

The infamous 'Poop Suitcase' system involves Putin's security team collecting and sealing his bodily waste during foreign trips, returning it to Russia to prevent foreign intelligence agencies from analyzing his health condition. His bodyguards reportedly remain with him even during private moments, including bathroom visits.

Putin's bodyguards face mandatory retirement at age 35. These elite guards typically graduate from the Federal Protective Service Academy and undergo rigorous screening including interviews, polygraph tests, and extensive background checks. Physical requirements are specific – they must stand between 5.8-6.2 feet tall, weigh 75-90 kg, speak foreign languages, and train for harsh winter conditions. They've been known to intervene in high-level diplomatic situations, such as preventing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un from getting too close to Putin in 2025.

Multiple reports indicate Putin employs body doubles, particularly for public appearances or high-risk situations. Ukraine's military intelligence chief, Major General Kirill Budanov, has claimed Putin uses at least three doubles, some having undergone plastic surgery to enhance their resemblance to him.

The President travels in an Aurus Senat, a specialized vehicle designed by Aurus Motors in collaboration with Russia's NAMI institute. This state car features bulletproof construction, grenade resistance, fire suppression systems, emergency oxygen, and advanced command capabilities. Remarkably, it can continue operating with all four tires punctured, achieve speeds up to 249 kmph, and includes numerous luxury features.

Before any presidential visit, the Presidential Security Service thoroughly analyzes the destination's crime statistics, terrorism threats, protest likelihood, and religious landscape. They install secure communication systems, including a dedicated telephone booth for Putin, who does not use mobile phones.

Putin reportedly travels with a portable laboratory to test food for potential toxins. He avoids using local hotel staff, instead bringing his own chefs and housekeeping personnel from Russia. An advance security team inspects the hotel a month before arrival, removing existing supplies and replacing them with Russian equivalents. Hotels sometimes designate a separate elevator exclusively for his team. All food ingredients undergo preliminary inspection at the Kremlin, and his chefs are trained military personnel.

For air travel, Putin uses the Ilyushin IL-96-300 PU, nicknamed the "Flying Pluton." This aircraft features sophisticated communications systems, missile protection, conference rooms, fitness facilities, a bar, and medical equipment. It also contains an emergency nuclear command button, enabling Putin to authorize strikes while airborne. The plane can transport 262 passengers and fly 11,000 kilometers without stopping.

In the event of an attack, Putin's bodyguards form a protective human shield around him before escorting him to his armored Aurus Senat. From there, he can be transported directly to a specially positioned Kremlin aircraft.

Putin's travel protocol includes one or two backup aircraft accompanying his plane in case of emergencies. His bodyguards reportedly undergo two weeks of quarantine before trips to ensure maximum preparedness.

The security team takes modern threats like drones very seriously. Observers have spotted bodyguards carrying hand-held anti-drone interceptors, presumably capable of disabling or neutralizing hostile drones during public appearances.