How are Xi Jinping and Putin protected during their travels?

Most world leaders have a special security team when they travel. Russian President Vladimir Putin has up to four layers of security when he appears in public.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has at least four layers of security protection whenever he appears in public. Photo: RBTH

4 layers of security protecting the Russian President

Officers of the Federal Protective Service (FSO) are primarily responsible for ensuring the safety of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to the newspaperKomsomol,About 1-2 months before the President's visit, FSO staff will start collecting information about the locality and even go “on the ground” to plan the best protection for the head of government.

News networkAINewsIt is known that every time he appears in public, President Putin is protected by at least four layers of security.

The first layer is the President's bodyguards. These cold-looking people act as a mobile "steel shield" for the President.

The second layer is made up of plainclothes guards who blend in with the crowd. Their job is to detect suspicious individuals who may be carrying weapons.

The third layer surrounded the crowd to prevent any suspicious individuals from approaching the head of state.

The furthest away is a group of snipers hiding on high-rise buildings, ready to prevent threats to the President's safety.

Media reports say that Putin’s bodyguards are armed with 9mm “Gyurza” guns. Gyurza bullets can penetrate body armor at a range of 50 meters, while their size is quite compact.

According to news agencyPravdaDuring each trip of President Putin, hundreds of bodyguards participate in protection, including 12 armed bodyguards who continuously ensure security for the Kremlin boss.

President Putin's motorcade usually has 5-7 escort cars along with 3-4 highway patrol cars.

Secret unit protecting Xi Jinping

Chinese President Xi Jinping. Photo: AFP

According to the newspaperSouth China Morning Post, Chinese President Xi Jinping's closest bodyguards are all members of a mysterious unit called Unit 8341. This unit was established under Chairman Mao Zedong in 1949, with the task of ensuring security for all of China's top leaders.

In fact, information about Xi Jinping's bodyguards during his trips is kept secret. Details of the security plan for Xi's visits are never made public.

However, like other heads of state, Mr. Tap's trips are always under strict security.

Before each visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping, security teams will conduct a “reconnaissance” of all important locations on the itinerary. One of the team’s preparations is to ensure that qualified hospitals are available near the place the leader is visiting in case of emergency.

Ensuring Mr. Tap's security, in addition to relying on his own security force, also partly relies on the security force of the host country.

High security areas will be set up at key locations for the visit, such as the hotel where Mr. Tap will stay or the places he is expected to visit.

When traveling from one location to another, Xi will travel in an armored limousine accompanied by a motorcade of bodyguards. Depending on the route, local authorities may impose road closures for a certain period of time.

For example, earlier this year, when Xi visited the US, the hotel where the Chinese leader stayed was considered a high-security zone, while road closures were imposed on the routes he traveled. In October 2015, when Xi visited the UK, thousands of local police were deployed across the country.

In addition to the bodyguards who always accompany Mr. Xi, snipers may also be deployed at key locations while some plainclothes bodyguards will blend into the crowd to detect any potential threats to the safety of the Chinese leader.

According to Dan Tri