how do you survive 43 assassination attempts in less than 25 years it seems President Vladimir Putin's bodyguards are the experts on this topic and every Secret Service in the world can learn a thing or two from their work so how does this Elite Squad tackle security threats against one of the most important people on the planet let's find out [Music] ruling over the second most powerful country in the world is bound to make you some enemies in Vladimir Putin's case they come mostly from abroad as he manages to Snuff out any opposition within his country however it was not always like this while today he's mostly feared back in 1990 when his political career started he mainly relied on his resourcefulness Charisma and ideology born in Leningrad now Saint Petersburg in 1952 Putin grew up in the post-war Soviet Union installing a sense of national pride and Duty in him his early career in the KGB way served as a spy honed his skills in intelligence gathering and decision making Putin's Ascent to power began in the 1990s when he joined the administration of Saint petersburg's mayor Anatoly soapchuk his ability to navigate the political landscape and manage financial affairs earned him recognition and Trust subsequently he moved to Moscow taking on key roles in the Yeltsin Administration in 1999 president Boris Yeltsin appointed Putin as prime minister a position he used to present himself as a strong and decisive leader amidst political and economic turmoil Yeltsin surprised the World by resigning Paving the way for Putin to become acting president riding a wave of popularity he won the presidential election in 2000 and was re-elected in 2004 and 2012. throughout his presidency Putin Consolidated power tightening control over the media and silenced opposition voices leading to criticism of his regime's Democratic credentials nevertheless he remains popular among many Russians for restoring stability and promoting national pride nowadays these sentiments are quite shaken by the war in Ukraine but Putin is still likely to win the next presidential elections as well needless to say Putin's past suggests the president has acquired a few hundred or even more enemies along the way thus the powerful man in the Kremlin is constantly under threat after all not many people can brag about surviving 43 assassination attempts naturally he's hands down the most protected man on this planet Putin's security is not just a bunch of people running around shooting like crazy it's an intricate web of structures circles and people all tasked with ensuring the president of the biggest country in the world can eat his porridge in peace of course the biggest threat to the Russian leader comes from the outside Putin's charm is so irresistible that it just can't shake all these targets from MI6 the bundesnarek tendenced the CIA dgsi and about a dozen other secret Services that's where the fso comes into play the Federal Protective Service fso plays a crucial role in safeguarding the Russian President Vladimir Putin and other high-ranking state officials established after the dissolution of the Soviet Union the fso has its roots in the KGB the renowned Soviet intelligence agency over the years it has grown in power consolidating various government agencies and gaining control over the distribution of the Russian budget headed by General Dimitri kochnev since May 2016 the fso is estimated to have around 50 000 uniformed Personnel along with several thousand plainclothed Personnel it operates a secure communication system for senior government officials and holds the authority to conduct searches and surveillance without warrants make arrests and issue orders to other state agencies the agency's primary responsibility is to protect high-ranking government officials including the president and secure essential government facilities and classified information this includes maintaining the Safety and Security of President Putin in the face of numerous threats especially during times of heightened tensions such as the full-scale invasion of Ukraine the fso operates with cutting-edge domestic technical developments ensuring that it stays at the Forefront of technology in its protective measures additionally it possesses the Black Box a crucial tool for use in the event of a global nuclear war while the exact budget and spending of the fso remain undisclosed It is believed to wield a substantial annual budget potentially amounting to several billion rules the agency's extensive Workforce and wide-ranging powers make it a formidable Force well equipped to tackle the challenges of protecting the Russian president and maintaining National Security while the head of the fso never showed any Ambitions outside of becoming an international criminal for multiple human rights violations the organization wields truly enormous power this made President Putin somewhat anxious so he had to establish a countermeasure and as we know are too well when Putin does something he goes big [Music] the National Guard of Russia also known as rostvardia is a formidable internal military force established in 2016 by President Vladimir Putin comprising more than 340 000 troops the National Guard directly reports to President Putin functioning as an independent agency with distinct responsibilities separate from the Russian Armed Forces its primary mission is to ensure National Security and Public Safety this includes securing Russia's borders combating terrorism and organized crime and guarding vital State facilities additionally the National Guard plays a significant role in maintaining public order and safety working alongside the ministry of internal affairs the formation of the National Guard was a strategic move by Putin officially the plan was to divide overlapping responsibilities within the Russian security system however analysts argue that the main point of this task was to counteract The Growing Power of the fso and to show other high officials within Russia that the president holds all the powerful cards of course the National Guard is pampered like no other structure within the security system the budget of Putin's private Army is estimated to be around 200 billion rubles which today is equal to roughly 2.2 billion dollars the National Guard's powers are extensive and Encompass activities such as arresting individuals sealing off areas delivering illegal foreign vessels in Russian territorial Waters and responding to emergencies while they possess the authority to use firearm arms under specific circumstances they are strictly prohibited from shooting at pregnant women children or people with disabilities unless they pose an immediate threat still while the National Guard projects an image of deterrence and strength its Personnel are not responsible for protecting the president personally instead this task falls upon the president's security service this agency within the fso consists of four special units and roughly around 2 500 additional Personnel that have the sole task of laying their lives so that the Russian president can survive each of these special units has a meticulous task that complements the overall protection of Putin it's truly impressive how this intricate machine works let's [Music] the president's Security Service SBP employs A specialized unit responsible for securing the perimeter during President Putin's movements outside the Kremlin this unit plays a crucial role in ensuring the president's safety during domestic and international travels their meticulous planning involves carefully choosing routes that avoid potential choke points and areas vulnerable to civil unrest when President Putin travels abroad the complexity of their task increases significantly the unit collaborates closely with local law enforcement agencies to preemptively address potential threats and establish escape plans they conduct thorough security sweeps of the president's accommodations meticulously searching for explosives spy devices and any potential threats The Chosen hotel is often a highly luxurious five-star or higher establishment where the unit reserves either the entire Hotel an entire Wing or several floors to ensure the utmost security choosing the staff to accompany the president on foreign visits is another crucial responsibility of this unit the screening process is highly classified and they rarely pick the same servants twice for security reasons only the president's personal cook who was hand-picked by Putin makes an exception to this rule after all Putin has a specific novichok-free diet so he entrusts his food only to a Chosen Few regardless Putin prefers a team of Specialists always to count his calories so he brings a special food taster Squad with him now if you imagine people taking a bite out of every meal before Putin digs in your way off we're not living in ancient Egypt and today food tasters are scientists rather than guinea pigs they get a sample of the food and analyze it for poisons and its composition they can actually even tell Putin How many calories the food has so that he can take care of his sexy ABS still their primary focus is on safety not on beauty while the fruit tasters prepare their portable state-of-the-art Laboratories the advanced Squad analyzes the best places to put the snipers [Music] if you ever have the chance to see Putin's massive and all-inspiring motorcade from your window it's a good idea to instantly but slowly get back to what you were doing before if you ever appear in a window while the Russian president is present you can be sure you have at least 10 red dots on your forehead sudden movements at this moment might lead to an unexpected headache from a bullet to your head despite having nerves of Steel Putin's sniper Squadron doesn't take any chances these highly skilled Sharpshooters are not to be underestimated they constantly scan their surroundings vigilant for any signs of danger or suspicious activity their presence is a warning to anyone harboring ill intentions towards the Russian president the sniper's role is to provide constant surveillance ensuring the safety of the president during his visits to various locations people residing along the designated route are instructed did not to look through their windows and any laundry hanging outside is taken down to prevent misunderstandings or misinterpretations of gestures the third unit plays a vital role in deterring potential assailants and maintaining the security of President Putin their precision and Readiness are essential to ensuring the safety of the Russian president and they are always prepared to respond swiftly and decisively to any threats that may arise with their expertise and vigilance the sniper Squadron serves as a formidable defense mechanism sending a clear message that any attempt on Putin's life will be met with Swift and lethal Force that's why usually several of the units are actually positioned in notable places where everyone can see them this is a terrifying wink from the SBP that you are constantly being watched and any wrong move will end up badly for you not for gluten Putin's second line of defense is a covert and highly skilled unit known as the second unit within the Federal Protective Service fso comprising secret guards dispersed among the public these operatives possess exceptional training in Psychology and surveillance techniques their primary role is to observe and detect signs of unrest or potential threats against the Russian president equipped with a keen eye for detail these highly trained psychologists are Adept at reading facial expressions walking patterns and postures to discern suspicious Behavior through their discrete observations they gather intelligence and potential threats and promptly inform the other units within the security detail ensuring Swift coordination to neutralize any perceived dangers number and tactics of this unit are shrouded in secrecy and their combat capabilities remain undisclosed while they are likely highly trained in self-defense and combat techniques their main function is to act as intelligence gatherers and informants by observing both Pro and anti-governmental public events they can identify individuals who may threaten the president's safety photos occasionally surface of these operatives accompanying Putin during his travels demonstrating their commitment to constant vigilance some experts suggest that these pictures are orchestrated by the fso as a method of public intimidation to send a message to the Russian populace that they are under constant surveillance this tactic serves to deter any potential unrest long before it can materialize in the events of a real threat the second unit would coordinate with the snipers however if push comes to shove everything lies on Putin's first last line of defense his personal bodyguards Putin's personal bodyguards also known as The Musketeers form the innermost layer of Defense in the Russian president's security detail their primary function is to ensure the safety and protection of President Putin and they are meticulously selected and trained to become the best personal protection unit in the world unlike the American Secret Service which aims to incapacitate attackers the Musketeers have the authority to eliminate anyone they perceive as a threat making their mandate more lethal the recruitment process is rigorous and former police officers are intentionally excluded from this role to avoid any hesitation in using lethal Force Instead The Musketeers consist of Highly skilled operational psychologists who can detect potential threats by analyzing a person's facial expressions adding an extra layer of vigilance to their protection duties physical fitness is of utmost importance and Musketeers undergo strict physical requirements including exceptional stamina to endure extreme temperatures without displaying any signs of weakness fluency in multiple foreign languages and a deep understanding of politics are essential qualifications to become one of Putin's trusted guards after all no one would want a sinnoh-russian nuclear war over a bodyguard slamming Xi Jinping to the ground while he's trying to hug his friend and Ally visible at Putin's side the Musketeers carry distinctive black leather briefcases which are actually state-of-the-art bulletproof Shields capable of withstanding various calibers of bullets their combat training is extensive and they are armed with nine millimeter Gaza pistols loaded with armor-piercing bullets ensuring they are well equipped to handle any potential threats Additionally the Musketeers possess Kevlar umbrellas which serve both as Shields again caliber weapons and dysfunctional umbrellas this multifunctional equipment highlights the level of sophistication and preparedness of Putin's personal bodyguards while the Musketeers are just one circle of Putin's massive personal security apparatus they are without a doubt the most important rumors say that Putin takes personal care of his bodyguards and gives them a bit extra on top to ensure they will always be on his side thus he often has at least two of them right by his side in the presidential limo Putin's motorcade is more than just a procession of vehicles it is a display of military might and impenetrable security while the Russian president travels inside Moscow he has the luxury of using a private road worth approximately 60 million dollars leading directly from his residence in Novo agayovo to the Kremlin this Private Road is closed to all other traffic reserved exclusively for the president's commute accompanied by a police escort and a dozen other vehicles the motorcade ensures Putin's Swift and secure Passage through the bustling City however when Putin Ventures Beyond his private road his motorcade transforms into a formidable military parade comprising at least 20 Vehicles including six heavily armored SUVs carrying Elite teams of Russian Special Forces the motorcade is equipped with an array of advanced Weaponry these highly and operatives are armed with Dragon Op sniper rifles AK-47s anti-tank grenade launchers portable anti-aircraft missile systems and other formidable equipment their mission is clear to neutralize any threats and ensure the president's safe exit from danger at the heart of this awe-inspiring motorcade is Putin's presidential limousine an aura Senate specifically designed to replace his former Mercedes-Benz S600 guard Pullman this russian-made Marvel cost nearly 200 million dollars to create transforming it into an impregnable fortress on Wheels the aura Senate is not only an Exemplar of luxury with its plush leather seating and Polished finishes but it also boasts an array of advanced security measures that put James Bond's gadgets to shame built to fso strict guidelines the limousine is heavily armored to withstand a barrage of threats including bullets of any caliber sniper fire landmine explosions chemical gas attacks and even small-scale missile assaults its interior is a comfortable Command Center complete with high-end communication equipment making it a mobile hub for coordinating security operations the windows when covered don't limit the driver's Vision thanks to an advanced CCTV system providing a comprehensive 360 degree view of the surroundings moreover the aura Center has a secret emergency exit at the rear ensuring a swift Escape if necessary with its incredible defensive capabilities the aura Senate is more than just a car it represents President Putin's Authority and determination to be protected at all costs this phenomenal limo however is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Putin's travels check out what other luxurious means the Russian president uses to travel within Russia and abroad next