- By Shivangi Sharma
- Wed, 03 Dec 2025 04:12 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s foreign trips are among the most tightly controlled and meticulously choreographed operations in global politics. From specially trained bodyguards to travelling food labs and even the collection of his own waste, every detail is governed by strict protocols designed to safeguard his health, privacy and security. The system, rooted in Soviet-era intelligence practices, treats Putin’s biological data and personal routines with the same secrecy as state defence plans.
One of the most unusual and widely discussed aspects of Putin’s security detail is the collection and repatriation of his bodily waste. First reported by Paris Match journalists Regis Gente and Mikhail Rubin, and later highlighted by The Independent in 2022, this protocol is intended to prevent foreign agencies from analysing his stool for health indicators.
Specially assigned officers collect and seal the waste, which is then transported back to Russia in secure containers, a practice believed to have been used during visits to France, Saudi Arabia, and other nations.
Elite Bodyguards Who Retire At 35
Putin’s close-protection officers come from the Federal Protective Service (FSO), one of Russia’s most powerful security institutions with roots in the KGB. Within the FSO, the elite Presidential Security Service (SBP) guards him at all times.
The selection process is among the toughest in the world. Candidates must:
Graduate from the FSO Academy
Pass polygraph tests, interviews and extensive background checks
Be between 5.8 and 6.2 feet tall and weigh 75–90 kg
Speak foreign languages
Demonstrate exceptional physical endurance and psychological resilience
By law, bodyguards must retire at 35, ensuring peak physical readiness. In 2025, SBP guards even stopped North Korean leader Kim Jong Un from getting too close to Putin during a bilateral meeting, a rare public glimpse of their strict protective protocols.
Before any presidential trip, the SBP studies the destination’s crime, terrorism, protest and religious landscape. Secure communication lines, including a portable telephone booth, are set up on-site because Putin does not use a mobile phone.
Food Labs, Chefs And Hotel Takeovers
Putin also travels with a mobile laboratory that checks his food for toxins or contamination. No hotel staff are allowed to cook or clean for him, all such roles are handled by trained personnel who fly in from Russia.
An advance team inspects hotels weeks before his arrival, replacing all consumables with Kremlin-approved supplies. Some hotels even assign private elevators exclusively for his entourage.
Putin’s chefs, who are military-trained, bring all ingredients from Russia after thorough vetting.
A Fortress On Wheels
A highlight of Putin’s security convoy is the AurusSenat, a heavily armoured presidential limousine. The vehicle, part of Russia’s “Kortezh” project, is flown in from Moscow for foreign visits. In June this year, Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had travelled together in the Senat during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in China.
While the public sees only a handful of bodyguards accompanying Putin, there is an unseen network of people accompanying him. According to reports cited by Modern.az, this includes snipers, drone units, electronic-intelligence teams, and specialised communications officers.
These teams fly ahead of the president to map risks, scout venues, establish evacuation routes and ensure full control over every environment he enters.