**Putin’s Helicopter Trip: A Public Relations Stunt or a Genuine Security Risk?**
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently took a helicopter trip to the frontline Kursk Oblast, where his aircraft allegedly came under Ukrainian drone fire. However, according to sources close to the Kremlin, this incident was orchestrated as a public relations stunt to boost morale and show Putin’s “personal sacrifice” for the war effort.
The trip was shrouded in secrecy, with only being announced after Putin returned to Moscow. The Defense Ministry promoted the story through state media, claiming that the presidential helicopter was under attack by enemy drones during his visit to Kursk Oblast on 20 May. However, experts question the plausibility of this incident, suggesting it would be a massive security failure if true.
**A Public Relations Stunt**
The Kremlin’s intention behind staging this incident is to counter growing public dissatisfaction with the ongoing drone strikes and increasing inconveniences faced by ordinary Russians. As one Russian official told The Moscow Times, “Russians, dear ones, look. President Putin himself is suffering, tormented and even risking his own life. Your problems are trifles. You must grit your teeth and endure.”
However, the reality of Putin’s security arrangements contradicts this public narrative. Sources describe his protection as increasingly stringent, with comprehensive health screenings for anyone in proximity to the president. This includes PCR tests for multiple respiratory conditions, not just Covid-19.
**Security Expert Questions Incident**
Military expert Ivan Stupak, a former Ukrainian Security Service officer, questioned the plausibility of the incident, arguing that it would represent a massive security failure requiring widespread dismissals within the Presidential Security Service. “No one would ever allow such criminal negligence. Not even in a nightmare,” he said.
**A Departure from Standard Protocol**
Notably, the regular Kremlin press pool was excluded from this trip, and professional videographers were replaced by security personnel and other individuals. This departure from standard protocol was evident in the official footage, which lacked the typical high production values of presidential events.
**Experts Weigh In**
Former Federal Guard Service officer Vitaly Brizhaty, who left Russia after the full-scale invasion, said Putin’s movements are so secretive that even intelligence officials often don’t know his location. “He [Putin] doesn’t even trust his own people [the security services]. He only trusts his inner circle,” he said.
Respected Kremlin correspondent Andrei Kolesnikov from Kommersant reported on the alleged attack, but was not present in Kursk and based his account on secondhand information.
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