Putin’s India Visit Revives Curiosity About His Extreme Security Rituals: From Poison-Tasters to the Famous “Poop Suitcase”

As Russian President Vladimir Putin lands in India for a closely watched bilateral summit, attention has once again turned to the extraordinary and highly secretive security protocols that accompany his every foreign trip.

Far beyond the visible ring of bodyguards, Putin’s travel is orchestrated by Russia’s ultra-elite Federal Protective Service (FSO), an agency that inherited many practices from the Soviet-era KGB. The operation is described as an “invisible web” of protection that leaves virtually nothing to chance.

Elite Guards and Hidden Layers  
The men in dark suits seen beside Putin are only the public face. They belong to the Presidential Security Service (SBP), hand-picked officers who must be under 35, taller than 180 cm, in peak physical condition, combat-trained and psychologically screened. Behind them operate snipers, anti-drone teams, electronic-warfare specialists and rapid-response units that remain out of sight.

Food Tasted, Ingredients X-Rayed  
Every morsel served to the president is pre-tasted by security personnel. Chefs must wear gloves, change uniforms several times a day and submit to hand inspections. All ingredients are screened, yet the final dishes are still tested on bodyguards first — a centuries-old tradition to guard against poisoning.

Putin’s personal tastes are simple: he avoids fast food, rarely eats red meat in the evening, enjoys eggplant starters, classic Olivier salad and game liver, and usually sticks to rosehip or ginger tea at official functions.

Armoured Convoy and the “Flying Kremlin”  
On the ground abroad, Putin rides in the Russian-made Aurus Senat limousine — blast-resistant, equipped with its own oxygen supply and able to withstand grenade attacks. In the air, he uses a specially modified Ilyushin Il-96-300PU nicknamed the “Flying Kremlin,” complete with secure command centres, a gym, medical suite and systems that allow him to authorise nuclear launches mid-flight.

The Infamous “Poop Briefcase”  
Perhaps the most bizarre ritual is the collection of Putin’s bodily waste during foreign visits. Security officers reportedly seal it in special packets and transport it back to Moscow in dedicated briefcases, preventing foreign intelligence services from analysing it for health or DNA information. The practice made headlines after being observed in France (2017), Saudi Arabia (2019) and even during recent trips to the United States, and has reportedly been in place since Putin assumed power in 1999.

While India has deployed its own massive security arrangement for the visit, the Russian side maintains full control over the president’s immediate protection, food, vehicles and even sanitation — underscoring the extraordinary lengths Moscow goes to shield its leader on the global stage.