Delhi is transforming into a fortress for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit on December 4-5, his first since December 2021. A contingent of approximately 50 Russian security officers has arrived in advance, meticulously sweeping all locations on the presidential itinerary. The operation is shrouded in secrecy, with insiders terming it a “secret cover.” The moment Putin’s aircraft lands, the outermost security ring will be handled by the National Security Guard (NSG) commandos. The Special Protection Group (SPG), Intelligence Bureau (IB), Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), and Delhi Police will each manage separate, critical layers of protection. The security deployment is comprehensive, featuring sophisticated jammers, artificial intelligence monitoring, dedicated route sanitization teams, and anti-sniper units. The hotel chosen for the Russian president’s stay has been thoroughly sanitized, with round-the-clock security measures implemented. The accompanying delegation will also benefit from exclusive arrangements. The advance team of 50 Russian officers has been active across all potential sites, coordinating closely with a select group of India’s top security officials. Putin is known to travel with a security detail of around 100 officers and his heavily armored Aurus Senat limousine, renowned for its robust defensive capabilities. His security footprint also includes covert units that embed themselves in the local area prior to his arrival, reporting intelligence back to Moscow. A portable laboratory will accompany the convoy to test all food served to the President, who only consumes meals cleared by the technicians. Furthermore, Putin reportedly travels with a portable toilet, a measure reportedly linked to national security to prevent any biological traces from being left behind, potentially revealing health information. Delhi’s security infrastructure is at peak readiness, with seamless coordination between Russian advance teams and Indian agencies, ensuring one of the most secure visits to the capital.
