Snipers, bodyguards armed with handguns that can punch through body armor, helicopter gunships
and trained attack bears- we made only one of these up, but the protection of the President
of Russia is absolutely insane.
The American President has the Secret Service, and his counterpart in Russia has their own
elite bodyguard unit- the Presidential Security Service.
Part of the Federal Protective Service, this arm of the Russian government is responsible
for protecting high ranking Russian government figures, and has a whopping 50,000 employees.
The PSS though is only responsible for protecting the Russian President and Prime Minister,
and they're very good at their job.
Much of the way the PSS operates is similar to the way the American Secret Service operates-
but this isn't copycat'ing, it's simply because the fundamentals of security don't change
no matter what country you're from.
However, the PSS has at least one additional requirement that the American Secret Service
doesn't when dealing with a president as image-conscious as Vladimir Putin.
Long before the Russian president steps foot on a plane to a new meeting or vacation spot,
his security team is already hard at work.
Every single destination needs to be thoroughly checked for a wide variety of potential threats,
and this includes every single road to be traveled and potential stop or visit.
The first threat analyzed is the criminal one.
A large number of organized crime syndicates would profit greatly from the abduction or
even assassination of a government leader- just imagine what Mexican cartels would do
to get their hands on the American president.
Thus the Russian President's security detail meticulously analyzes the criminal threat
to the President directly, or to any asset the President may be using during his travels.
The last thing Putin's security detail wants is to accidentally travel down a road well
known for frequent gun battles between rival criminal gangs- even if they probably seriously
outgun any street gang on planet earth.
Next on the agenda is analyzing any potential for social unrest.
The president's security detail will work to make sure that any potential travel route
or visit avoids locations that are potential hotspots for citizen unrest.
Imagine what might have happened if Xi Jinping had traveled through Hong Kong during the
massive riots that rocked the city, or if the American president's travel plans had
included a road trip through the city of Ferguson during its own social unrest.
However, this part of the screening process includes analyzing the potential for social
unrest actually inspired by the president himself.
Putin has proven to be a particularly divisive figure in Russia, and frequently the target
of ire by pro-democracy groups, lgbtq rights activists, and women's rights activists.
Once, Putin was accosted by Femen protesters during a visit to Hannover.
While it's doubtful the protesters would have caused him any actual harm, his bodyguards
were immediately on hand to ensure Putin wasn't harmed, or potentially embarrassed.
Safeguarding the president from social unrest he may inspire himself includes carefully
vetting any visitors or attendees to events Putin goes to, and even blacklisting individuals
or groups from participating.
Next is analyzing the possibility of natural disasters in the area the President may be
visiting.
This is done by looking at historical data and gaining access to good long-range weather
forecasting.
Some natural disasters can be easily predicted, or at least given a good probability of occuring
or not- this includes seasonal events such as flooding or typhoons.
Others however are completely unpredictable, such as earthquakes or Kylie Jenner dropping
her own album.
In either case, the President's protection detail needs to have a well established contingency
plan that includes the capability to escape a natural disaster entirely before or after
it's struck.
If escape is impossible, the protection detail must have the necessary tools to shelter in
place while the Russian military enacts a plan to extract the President.
Lastly is a concern unique to Russia's current and very image-conscious Vladimir Putin.
The last thing that the presidential detail can let happen is let the Russian president
be assassinated.
The second-to-last thing is let him look foolish.
For Vladimir Putin this is specially important, as the current Russian president has worked
to carefully cultivate a strong, manly image through various photoshoots which include
him:
sun tanning in the Russian wilderness
riding a horse shirtless
joining an underwater research excursion
swimming in a wild Russian lake
and hunting...
shirtless for some reason...
While these photo shoots have been very successful at growing his popularity with segments of
the Russian population, other Russians have fought back by making Vladimir Putin the most
meme'able world leader.
Thus the Presidential protective service has to be ever conscious of how a visit could
affect the Russian president's public image.
A month out from a potential visit security experts inspect the location and specially
the accommodations where the President will be staying at.
The location is carefully checked for any potential security vulnerabilities, and any
employees are carefully vetted by the security team.
Lastly, every single item inside the president's accommodations is inspected and repaired well
before his arrival- that way during his stay there is no need for any technician or repairman
to visit.
With just a few weeks before the President's stay, technical experts install radio and
cell signal jammers.
These devices will help prevent any potential IEDs or planted explosives from being detonated
via radio or cell phone.
However, it also helps ensure that the President isn't potentially spied on by hidden electronics
that a sweep may have been missed.
Unique to the Russian president's security detail is the ability to ping any and all
smart devices in proximity to where the president is expected to stay or travel.
Russian laws allow the president's security team to use tapping hardware and software
on any electronic device they believe will be in proximity to the president.
They are also given the authority to execute body searches without the same legal restrictions
a police officer may have, gain access to absolutely any building or organization, and
seize any vehicle they deem necessary for the protection of the president, or that might
pose a threat.
So who gets to protect one of the most powerful men in the world?
First you must be over 21 but younger than 35 at time of application.
You also have to be able to complete a stringent physical evaluation, so only those in peak
physical shape should even think of applying.
Next you must be between 175 and 190 centimeters (5.7 – 6.2 feet).
This is so that you're physically large enough to shield the president with your own body,
but not so tall as to experience difficulty in tight physical confines or draw attention
to yourself.
The requirements to join the Presidential Security Service are surprisingly similar
to that of the American Secret Service.
Combat experience is not required, and in fact good candidates are more defensively
minded than offensive.
That's because as explained by a former Presidential Security Service employee, a soldier is meant
to attack but a bodyguard is meant to defend and protect.
Being a presidential bodyguard can be much more challenging than being a soldier, as
most of the threats that a presidential security service member will face are going to be clandestine.
A good candidate must have excellent attention to detail, and only the best of situational
awareness.
Any member in a crowd can be a potential attacker, and even the sweet old lady waiting in line
to shake the president's hand could be carrying a hidden gun in her purse.
A good bodyguard must keep an eye on a wide variety of potential threat vectors, and yet
remain aware enough to react to a completely unexpected threat.
Even more important though is the psychological component.
A presidential bodyguard's job is not to apprehend or eliminate an attacker, but to protect the
president even at the cost of their own life.
Thus while a normal police officer or soldier may have the instinct to neutralize an attacker
first, a Russian President's bodyguard will instead put themselves between the president
and the threat even before drawing their pistol.
This is why defensive thinking is more important than offensive thinking.
The presidential security service must also be well versed in different languages given
the Russian president's frequent travel abroad.
This is so that agents can understand if any threat is present in the area by listening
to and understanding the conversations of locals.
Next, they must have a good sense for proper etiquette and politics, while remaining tactful
at all times.
In this video a security team member tactfully asks UFC fighter Conor McGregor to remove
his arm from around Putin's shoulder- a big no-no that could have caused an embarrassing
public incident if the bodyguard had overreacted.
This is also why only calm and level-headed individuals are allowed to guard the most
powerful man in Russia, the last thing President Putin needed here was an overanxious bodyguard
making a scene with a major public figure like McGregor.
We have to admit though, the entire staff of the Infographics show would have loved
to have seen a Russian Presidential bodyguard go toe to toe with a UFC champion- our money
is on the bodyguard, and that's because of the incredible training they undergo.
Details are very scarce given the secrecy of the Russian government, but it's known
that much like their American counterparts, Russian presidential bodyguards are experts
in hand to hand combat and have incredible stamina and tolerance for extreme heat and
cold.
Even in the coldest conditions these men must be able to tolerate the weather in only light
overcoats, since heavy overcoats would hinder their agility and ability to move quickly.
Rumors even have it that Russian presidential bodyguards take a variety of drugs that directly
affect their physiology.
This could include the use of amphetamines for alertness, or perhaps even human growth
hormones or steroids to increase strength and endurance.
Again, given the secrecy of the Russian government, these remain only rumors- but would you really
be surprised to learn that Vladimir Putin is protected by a team of bodyguards jacked
up on experimental supersoldier serums?
While the President is out and about, the PSS operates almost exactly as the American
Secret Service.
First, the President is closely protected by a team of elite bodyguards who are ever
present and within feet of him at all times.
These men are trained to put themselves directly in the path of an attacker, and take a bullet
for the Russian president if necessary.
As such they carry body armor under their suits or jackets, and even carry special bulletproof
briefcases which can be used as shields.
They also carry well concealed handguns capable of punching through body armor at a range
of up to 50 meters, and submachine guns.
Sometimes they even carry kevlar umbrellas which can protect from bullets and shrapnel.
Next is the president's second circle of protection, and arguably the most important.
These individuals are usually invisible, and don't look like government agents at all.
That's because they're trained to blend into crowds so as to ascertain threats from within.
They will dress like regular civilians and 'work' the crowd, identifying troublemakers
and radioing to their teammates about potential threats or individuals to be concerned about.
They are also meant to act before an attacker even has a chance to threaten the president-
an individual suddenly shoving others out of their way might just be an overeager fan,
or a deranged gunman, and it's the second circle's job to neutralize them before they
get a chance to threaten the president.
The third circle of protection works along the perimeter of a crowd, and carefully checks
for threats from the outside.
These agents will be dressed like their comrades, both to identify them as security detail members
but also to make themselves a threat and discourage an attack.
If the President's security detail is highly visible and in large numbers, it can act as
a visual deterrent, discouraging a would-be attacker by making them believe they'd just
fail anyways.
The fourth circle of protection is made up of elite spotters and snipers situated in
tactically advantageous points around the President's location.
Their job is not just to keep an eye on the crowd and act accordingly, but even more importantly
to act as counter-snipers.
As the greatest threat to the president is going to come from a sniper, the President's
own snipers have to be able to identify the most likely threat vectors for a sniper attack
and keep tabs on them, and act to accurately and immediately neutralize any threat.
Lastly, the Russian president is typically escorted by a special unit of heavily armed
security personnel.
These 'heavies' are responsible for extracting the president from any potential situation,
or for neutralizing a heavily militarized threat to the president.
They are capable of protecting not just from a human threat, but of employing anti-tank
and anti-aircraft weapons to protect against heavy vehicles and airborne threats.
Now go check out CIA vs KGB, which was better during the cold war?
Or click this other video instead!