Does Vladimir Putin travel without security, unlike Emmanuel Macron?

A Russian president so sure of the support of his people that he would go out without an escort – or almost? On August 12, an Internet user with pro-Russian positions shared on X the video of a trip by Vladimir Putin showing him engaging in a walkabout at the edge of a gas station. His post was viewed tens of thousands of times on X and was shared on Facebook.

The Internet user compares the lightness, according to him, of the protection system put in place for the leader of the Kremlin to the importance of the police resources deployed to protect Emmanuel Macron, which illustrates, in his eyes, the gap which separates the French president from the population:

“While Macron hides behind 50 riot police and riot barriers to lay a wreath… Putin gets out of his car in the middle of the road, shakes his hands, smiles, talks to people. The crowd welcomes him like a father. (…) No 15,000 police officers to secure a 200-meter trip. Just Russians who love their president. And a president who is not afraid of his people. Meanwhile in France: (…) a head of state who no longer sets foot outside without shielding.”

The scene of the walkabout is real: it took place on August 11 during a visit by the Russian president to the city of Novosibirskin Siberia, in Russia. On the other hand, contrary to what the Internet user claims, the security system surrounding Vladimir Putin during this trip was not reduced, according to a security expert who requested anonymity, consulted by the France 24 Observers editorial staff: “It is the Russian equivalent of what is put in place for Emmanuel Macron.”

“We are in a controlled crowd bath,” says the specialist straight away. “There is no one on the road, which means that it was previously closed,” specifies the expert, based on another video filmed from above of the arrival of Vladimir Putin’s convoy at the gas station.

The security surrounding the Russian president is “a classic system in three zones”, then analyzes the expert. These zones make it possible to organize the security perimeter, from the closest to the furthest.

Men armed with assault rifles

“Zone 1 is the one assigned to the presidential security service”, which takes care of the close protection of the leader, explains the expert, who points out the presence of a special forces unit.

The video of the crowd shared by the Internet user shows the presence of three men in combat gear, equipped with night vision goggles and assault rifles. These men wear a badge on their uniform with an indication in Russian, “СБП”. This is the abbreviation for “Служба безопасности президента Российской Федерации” (Security Service of the President of the Russian Federation). of Russia), explains Benjamin Gravisse, political scientist and author of the blog Red Samovara site specializing in military issues related to the Russian army.

In addition to these three men, Vladimir Putin was surrounded by at least 10 other members of presidential security in the video shared by the Internet user, according to our editorial team’s count. This count does not take into account security personnel visible in the background and inside the convoy vehicles.

An armored limousine

Another means mobilized in this zone 1: the limousine which transported the president, an Aurus Senat, visible in another video of his crowd bath. This is a heavily armored vehicle.

According to the site of Aurusthe Russian manufacturer, this limousine model benefits from BR5 level protection, equivalent to the European standard VPAM VR10the highest level of ballistic protection possible for a vehicle. It is notably designed to resist ammunition capable of piercing armor.

Finally, still in zone 1, a presidential security service van appears to be equipped with bells on its roof. It could be satellite link equipment or an anti-drone jamming system, believes Benjamin Gravisse. The bells indeed resemble a dome of the Russian system PRES-VMequipment capable of operating 360-degree anti-drone defense jamming.

A convoy of at least 23 vehicles

The external protection perimeter of Vladimir Putin’s convoy was ensured in “zones 2 and 3”, adds the expert who requested anonymity, zone 2 being managed by “the Russian equivalent of the gendarmerie” and zone 3 by “the local police”.

In Vladimir Putin’s convoy, which totals at least 23 vehicles according to a count by our editorial team, we can see several Russian police cars driving at the rear, including Haval F7 recognizable by their white bodywork.

Secure the convoy route and manage traffic

The role of zones 2 and 3 is to ensure the security of the convoy route and to manage traffic along its path. “During the crowd, the units assigned to these areas worked together to cut the section of the road where the Russian president was,” analyzes the expert who requested anonymity.

Police units were also used to secure the passage of the convoy near from the Synchrotron Scientific Center (SKIF) in Novosibirskgeolocated by our editorial staff. Russian police asked passers-by to move in a ditch on the side of the road, according to a woman who can be heard in a video published on Telegram:

“It was in a ditch like this that I, a few children and two more adults waited for Putin in Novosibirsk. Initially, we were all sitting at the bus stop near the SKIF science center, but about 15 minutes before Putin arrived, they abruptly made us all leave.”

An air defense unit mobilized?

Finally, according to Ateo Breakinga Russian-language media outlet critical of Vladimir Putin, an air defense unit was also reportedly deployed during his visit, adding anti-aircraft protection to his security. A video shared by this media shows the deployment of a TIGR, an armored 4×4 of the Russian army. Beside him, a machine gun seems to point towards the sky, which could correspond to a defense position against a possible aerial threat.

The France 24 Observers editorial team was able to geolocate the deployment of the TIGR at the level of Novosibirsk hydroelectric dam.

Although it is difficult to establish whether this unit was specially deployed to ensure the protection of Vladimir Putin, it was nevertheless part of the active defense means on the day of his visit.