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Russian President, Vladimir Putin Now Wears ‘Bulletproof Vests’ Amid Assassination Fears

Published

1 year ago

June 5, 2024

Russian president, Vladimir Putin is reportedly now using bulletproof vests for many of his public appearances amid fears he could face an assassination bid linked to his war in Ukraine or from Islamic terrorists.

Two Russian officials plus a source close to the Kremlin told The Moscow Times that the country’s special services ‘have ramped up the already strict security measures surrounding President Vladimir Putin to an unprecedented degree’.

The Kremlin is on ‘heightened alert over its invasion of Ukraine – but is also said to be ‘rattled’ by recent attacks on high-ranking politicians in Europe and Asia.

A Russian source told the news outlet: ‘The Kremlin takes Vladimir Putin’s security very seriously. He is protected by a whole army of visible and invisible guards.’

The report claimed that the 71-year-old has been wearing body armour at outdoor events ‘since at least 2023’.

The report went on: ‘He has been doing so on the strong recommendation of the Presidential Security Service (SBP), a unit within the Federal Guard Service (FSO) that protects the president.’

Sources confirmed he wore the body armour beneath his jacket during a major appearance on May 9 on Red Square when he presided over the annual Victory Day military parade commemorating the Soviet victory over the Nazis in World War II, stated the report.

This is an event when his security is highly visible, and snipers are present on rooftops around the square.

Footage of him walking with ex-defence minister Sergei Shoigu appeared to show how he was made uncomfortable by the alleged body armour.

‘This year on May 9, the chief [Putin] was clearly wearing concealed body armour during the parade. And that precaution, I think, is necessary,’ said one official.

‘God protects the cautious,’ said a second.

The news outlet quoted Jade Miller, described as an independent British hostile environment and high-risk security consultant, who examined in detail footage of Putin at the Victory Day parade and concluded that he was indeed wearing a bulletproof vest.

‘Putin appears to be walking in a rather rigid manner and there are no natural creases appearing at the back of his overcoat when walking and shaking military personnel hands,’ said Miller.

His upper body frame ‘looks unnatural and his shoulders appear rather wide & square, showing no shape of the back and shoulder blades’.

At one point ‘a part of his overcoat appears to get caught under what could potentially be a ballistic vest’.

The day was unusually cold for the time of year, and many attendees had donned extra clothing.

But Putin ‘appears to lift and adjust his shoulders in a way that shows discomfort from how a ballistic vest is designed to sit on the shoulders or collarbone,’ she concluded.

The weight of such body armour may cause discomfort and irritation when worn for a prolonged time.

The British expert concluded Putin kept his overcoat fastened up high and was ‘seen checking that it is closed, as though he is trying to ensure no one can see an undergarment’.

She concluded: ‘In my professional opinion, Putin is wearing some form of ballistic protection during his time attending the parade’.

Related Topics:Russia Russian Vladimir Putin

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12 Die, 30 Missing In Peru Landslide

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2 hours ago

December 1, 2025

Editor

At least 12 people, including three children, died in a landslide at a river port in central Peru on Monday, and 30 were reported missing, officials said.

The landslide submerged a boat with about 50 passengers on board, and another with none, as they were docked at the port of Iparia in the Amazon jungle region of Ucayali, according to a police report cited by the Andina news agency.

Six people were injured, it added, and a search and rescue operation was underway at the start of the Peruvian rainy season.

Without giving a toll, Peru’s COEN national emergency operations centre said on X that tragedy struck at dawn due to “erosion” of the bank of the Ucayali river.

It said the navy has been called in to help.

AFP

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Nigeria Grants Asylum To Guinea-Bissau Opposition Candidate

Published

2 hours ago

December 1, 2025

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The Nigerian embassy in Guinea-Bissau has granted asylum to Fernando Dias da Costa, the country’s opposition presidential candidate, following alleged threats to his life after last week’s military coup, The Cable Reports.

The coup was announced by military officers on Wednesday, just days after Guinea-Bissau’s presidential election in which both incumbent President Umaro Embaló and his main challenger, da Costa, claimed victory before official results were released.

Nigeria condemned the takeover and urged an immediate return to constitutional order.

In a letter to the President of the Economic Community of West African States Commission, Omar Touray, dated November 30, the Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, said President Bola Tinubu had approved asylum and protection for da Costa inside the Nigerian embassy in Bissau.

Tuggar wrote that the decision was made “in response to threats made against da Costa’s life.”

“In this regard, it would be appreciated if you would kindly mandate the ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau to provide him protection and security while in the premises of the Nigerian embassy,” the letter stated.

The foreign affairs minister’s Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy, Alkasim Abdulkadir, confirmed the letter’s authenticity to The Cable on Monday.

He said, “The decision of the Federal Government of Nigeria to grant asylum and provide protection to Fernando Dia Da Costa falls squarely within Nigeria’s sovereign responsibility and longstanding commitment to regional peace, stability, and democratic governance.”

He added that Nigeria acted “in the broader interest of de-escalation,” saying the government had exercised its discretion “to prevent further deterioration of tensions and to promote social cohesion in Guinea-Bissau and the wider West African sub-region.”

According to Abdulkadir, the intervention aligns with ECOWAS principles and reflects Nigeria’s role as a stabilising force in West Africa.

Following the coup, ECOWAS held an emergency virtual summit of heads of state and subsequently suspended Guinea-Bissau from the regional bloc until constitutional order is restored.

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Trump To Attend FIFA World Cup Finals Draw On Friday

Published

2 hours ago

December 1, 2025

Editor

The White House on Monday confirmed US President Donald Trump would attend the draw for the FIFA World Cup finals in Washington later this week.

The United States will co-host the 2026 tournament alongside Canada and Mexico.

“On Friday, President Trump will attend the FIFA World Cup final draw at the Kennedy Centre,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.

Trump has made the World Cup a centrepiece event of both his second presidency and the 250th anniversary of US independence next year.

But the giant sporting extravaganza has not escaped the political turmoil caused by Trump’s hardline stance on a host of issues.

Trump, a Republican, has raised the possibility of moving games from some US host cities amid a crackdown on what he says is crime and illegal migration in some Democratic-run areas.

AFP