Vladimir Putin, who has led Russia for over 25 years, celebrated his 73rd birthday yesterday.
According to research, Putin is currently one of the most heavily guarded leaders in the world. The individuals responsible for his security – his personal pguards – are distinguished not only by their physical strength but also by their professionalism, loyalty, and high level of training. So, who are these people, and how is Putin protected?
Modern.az recently presented an investigative article about the head of the Presidential Security Service, Aleksey Rubejnoy. As a continuation of that article, we bring to your attention the following material about Putin's pguards.
The main agency protecting Vladimir Putin – the Federal Protective Service (FSO) – is one of Russia's most closed and secretive organizations. Established in 1996, the primary task of this service is to ensure the security of the president, high-ranking state officials, strategic facilities, and official events. The service is formed through a rigorous selection process inherited from the former USSR era and based on the elite structure of the “KGB”.
Putin's personal pguards are not random individuals. They are selected from a special unit within the Federal Protective Service called the "Presidential Security Service." To join this unit, candidates must meet the following criteria:
Age: Must not be over 35;
Height: Must not be below 180 cm;
Physical fitness: High level of endurance, combat skills;
Psychological tests: Decision-making ability, ability to remain calm under pressure;
Security investigation: Entire background, including family, is investigated;
Loyalty tests: Loyalty to the state and personally to the president.
Presidents' pguards are custodians of state secrets – they are privy to information about the heads of state's personal routines, plans, and even health status. According to Russian laws, pguards are permanently prohibited from disclosing information about the president.
According to investigations, the pguards visible next to Vladimir Putin are merely a “showcase.” There are also unseen security personnel, snipers, observers, intelligence drones, and those equipped with special communications. Before every official visit, the location the president will visit is checked for days.
The average age of Putin's guards is currently 36. They are primarily individuals with athletic ranks or titles in various martial arts.
Putin's visits are secretly planned by the Federal Protective Service for security purposes several days before the local time and date are announced.
Several former pguards who were once close to Putin later appeared in the press and made certain statements. For example, former pguard Gleb Karakulov fled to the West in 2023 and made a series of sensational revelations. He shared some details about Putin's “closed lifestyle” – such as the president never using a mobile phone, traveling by special train, and adhering to certain protocols to avoid leaving a trace...
Investigations in the Western press acknowledge that Vladimir Putin's security is protected at the highest military and technological level. His pguards are elite personnel who ensure not only physical but also political and information security. They are considered the most secretive and reliable individuals of the Russian state. Putin's pguards do not aspire to high positions; they are loyal to the head of state and are ready not only to kill but also to die for the president. However, when Putin wishes, he appoints them to various positions, and such instances are numerous.
The “Dossier” Center investigated how the Russian President is protected from attacks, poisonings, and phone tapping. This investigation utilized the film "Our Service," made in 2021. Since the film is not publicly available and has not been broadcast on television, it is likely intended for a limited audience of individuals associated with the Federal Protective Service.
According to investigations, in 2018, the salary of Putin's personal pguards was approximately 80,000 rubles. Now, this amount is reported to range between 180,000 and 226,000 rubles.
Putin's guards accompany him on all domestic and foreign trips and fly with the president on the plane. The guards control all of Putin's residences and apartments.
During the Russian president's visits, the escort team is divided into two parts: some travel directly with Putin, while others arrive at the destination in advance. The Federal Protective Service provides all transportation – both cars and armored trains – and fighter jets accompany the president's plane during flights.
During the president's foreign trips, an escort group accompanies him. The number of group members is estimated to be around 100.
According to investigations, Putin's chefs are also military personnel and hold various ranks. The film "Our Service" describes how each chef and waiter is truly a "worker with special requirements." These requirements include firearms training, combat training, and tactical training.
“We also go to the shooting range in our free time and engage in certain tactical exercises," says one of the chefs in the film.
The main rules for chefs are to wear gloves, change their uniforms several times a day, and have their hands checked for cuts. All food brought to the presidential kitchen is thoroughly inspected. Despite special control, all dishes prepared for the head of state are always tasted by the guards first. If a poisoned dish were prepared, they would be poisoned first.
In the film “Our Service,” Putin's preferences are described as follows: he does not eat “fast food” and tries to avoid meat in the evenings. His favorite dishes include eggplant appetizers, Olivier salad, and game animal liver. Putin does not drink ordinary tea; for official events, rosehip and ginger tea are prepared for him. The president rarely consumes alcoholic beverages.
Chefs also accompany Putin on his trips. His chef, Vladimir Olegovich, says in the film “Our Service”: "Wherever the leader is, we are there. That is, whether it's a business trip, a vacation, or a private ceremony, we are always there. When there's a big event, we also supervise it. Yes, there are chefs working at official events. But we supervise them."
Strict requirements are imposed on Putin not only regarding food but also the environment and cleanliness. The Presidential Administration is cleaned daily with special products; this practice began even before the pandemic.
The Presidential Security Service creates extensive opportunities for its employees. For example, they can receive promotions. An example of this is Aleksey Dyumin, a former pguard of the president. A. Dyumin protected Putin since 1999. In 2016, Dyumin became the governor of the Tula region, and in 2024, he became the president's assistant and Secretary of the State Council. Viktor Zolotov, who took control of the Russian National Guard in 2016, as well as Dmitry Mironov, Sergey Morozov, and Yevgeny Zinichev, who served as governors of the Yaroslavl, Astrakhan, and Kaliningrad regions, respectively, were also once Putin's pguards.
Former pguard Valery Pikalev became Vice-Governor of St. Petersburg in 2019 and has been heading the Federal Customs Service since 2024.
Based on official photo data, the “Dossier” Center has identified the pguards who most frequently accompanied Putin on his trips in the last year as: Anton Afinogenov, Andrey Annenkov, Aleksandr Gorelikov, Anatoly Kochkin, Konstantin Panin, Maxim Stepanov, Dmitry Fomin, Yaroslav Chubko, Yuri Shurov.
Thus, Putin's pguards are an integral part of his daily life and political activities. Although their work is often invisible, they actually play a significant role in the country's stability.
For Russia, the leader's security is akin to the security of an entire regime. Putin's pguards remain an integral part of this regime.
Consequently, Vladimir Putin's pguards are not merely individuals who ensure his physical security, but also symbols reflecting the state's power and the extent to which the governance system is centralized. Their activities once again demonstrate the great importance placed on security and control within the Russian leadership.
A. Gafarli
