Combat helicopter escorted Putin's motorcade during drills in Chelyabinsk

Combat aviation escorted Vladimir Putin's motorcade during his visit to Chelyabinsk Oblast to participate in military drills. Witnesses recorded that a military helicopter hovered at high speed above the column of vehicles. To ensure the safety of the trip, drivers were stopped before entering the highway.

Blocking roads and air defence

Russia's Federal Road Service (Rosavtodor) announced the closure of federal highways in Chelyabinsk Oblast to all traffic from 2 to 5 October. The official reason for the restrictions was cited as the conduct of drills and the visit of the head of state.

Observers note that the level of security for the Russian leader's person is increasing with each trip. Previously, in spring during a visit to Astana, attention was drawn to the presence in the column of a vehicle equipped with a electronic warfare (EW) complex and an armoured vehicle with a machine gunner's position set up on its roof. At that time, Putin's limousine was escorted by approximately 20 vehicles and 14 motorcyclists, while representatives of the Kazakh state security confirmed the involvement of military aviation.

Expansion of the escort arsenal

Autumn trips are characterised by a further expansion of the arsenal of security measures. During the September visit to Vladivostok, a pickup truck armed with an anti-aircraft machine gun was spotted in the column. Currently, an air component in the form of a combat helicopter has been added to the ground escort.

The Kremlin is strengthening protection not only during movements. At the end of August, it became known about the fourth recent increase in the number of security personnel. Currently, Vladimir Putin is guarded by more than 800 employees of the Federal Protective Service. Over the last four years, the number of such special service officers has increased by almost a hundred people.