AS one of the most powerful man on Earth, his security entourage will do anything to save his life from bloodthirsty would-be assassins.
Vladimir Putin is anticipated to be closely guarded by elite secret service agents as he ventures outside Russia, despite having an international arrest warrant against him.
The world’s eyes will be on Alaska on Friday as leaders of the two superpowers sit down for a showdown that will decide Ukraine’s fate.
Trump and Putin will sit down “one-on-one” at the Elmendorf-Richardson base in Alaska.
The Kremlin confirmed key details of the crunch talks – with the showdown kicking off at 11.30am Alaskan time (8.30pm UK time).
Putin, who has made limited international trips since beginning his incursion into Ukraine in 2023, will be shielded by an expert team of bodyguards to guarantee his utmost safety.
The former KGB agent, who has been ruling Russia for 25 years, is said to be obsessed with his security.
A Russian representative present at the May 9 Victory Day parade shared with The Moscow Times: “The security of Vladimir Putin is of paramount importance to the Kremlin. He is safeguarded by numerous visible and covert guards.”
Putin’s security personnel, who refer to themselves as his “Musketeers,” are believed to be recruited from a specialized division within Russia’s Federal Protective Service (FSO), as reported by The Economist.
Among the many things they are expected to carry are a number of suitcases, but they are not ordinary luggage.
Each one comes with a bulletproof protection that can be used as a shield in case shots are fired at Putin.
One of them is said to be a “Poo suitcase”, which is used to collect his stools and urine and deliver them back to Moscow.
French magazine Paris Match claimed that the bizarre practice was first noted in 2017 during a state visit to France.
Speculation suggests that Putin, who has been the subject of various health rumors over the years, is keen to keep his physical condition private, as it could potentially be analyzed through his waste.
In 2019, an unusual video surfaced showing Putin being escorted to the restroom by six male bodyguards during peace negotiations concerning Ukraine at Paris’ Elysee Palace.
Putin also likes to carry his dreaded nuclear briefcase dubbed “Cheget”.
Developed during the 1980s for the Soviet KGB, earlier versions of these were said to have an explosive charge of one kiloton, equivalent to one thousand tons of TNT.
That’s enough to destroy everything within a half-mile radius.
The current version is thought to act as a communication device, relaying orders to launch a nuclear attack.
With just the press of a button, the General Staff in Moscow receives the signal and initiates the nuclear attack.
Meanwhile, Putin’s bodyguards are said to be handpicked for qualities that include “operational psychology,” physical stamina and the ability to withstand cold and not sweat in heat.
They are equipped with an SR-1 Vektor pistol said which can fire armour-piercing bullets.
Before Putin travels, advance teams scout out his destination months ahead of time, checking to see how the public will likely respond and even if the area could be affected by bad weather or natural disasters.
Wherever he’s going to stay gets inspected, jamming devices are installed to prevent remote detonation of bombs, and technicians conduct electronic surveillance of cellphones and other devices in the area.
On the road, Putin rides amid a convoy of heavily armoured vans that carry military special operators armed with AK-47s, anti-tank grenade launchers and portable anti-aircraft missiles.
The Friday summit is said to have a ring of steel security, made up of both Russian and American special agents.
The base, near Anchorage, is bristling with troops from the US Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps – as well as National Guardsmen and Reserves.
In all, over 32,000 military personnel and their families live there – ten per cent of the population of Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city – alongside grizzly bears, moose and wolves.
It played a “particularly important” role in defending the US against the Soviet Union during the Cold War, according to the Library of Congress.
The White House apparently wanted to avoid the sight of a Russian leader being welcomed into a US military setting – but concluded there was no other option.
Elmendorf-Richardson is reportedly considered the only site in Alaska which could be locked down to the required level of security for the high-stakes meeting.
Putin will fly the nine hours from Moscow and Trump the seven-and-a-half hours from Washington, with ample room on the runway for both their presidential aircraft.
