During his official visit to Kazakhstan, President Vladimir Putin's convoy in Astana was escorted by: an armored car with room for a military man with a machine gun on the roof, a vehicle with an electronic warfare system (EW) and a helicopter.
Materials and analyzes on this topic appeared on the “Agenctwo. Novosti” profile on the Telegram social networking site. Putin arrived in Kazakhstan on Wednesday. The visit, which includes a meeting with the President of Kazakhstan Kasym-Jomart Tokayev and participation in the 5th Eurasian Economic Forum, will last until Friday, May 29.
During Putin's ride to the Independence Palace in Astana, where talks between the leaders of Russia and Kazakhstan are to take place, the head of state's limousine was surrounded by 14 motorcycles and about 20 cars. At the end of the column was a military vehicle – probably an armored “Alan” with a position for a soldier with a machine gun on the roof, OSINT analyst Kirill Mikhailov said.
The Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT) also noticed the vehicle resembled “a typical armored car with a partially closed machine gun turret, from which the weapon has been removed”. On the roof of another vehicle from the convoy there was a device that, according to Mikhailov, could be a WRE system.
According to an anonymous CIT representative this design can be used both as a radio-electronic jamming device and as communications equipment.
According to published photos, in addition to armored cars blocking access to Putin's convoy, soldiers in camouflage uniforms with automatic rifles were stationed along the route of the presidential vehicles.
Earlier, the Kazakh State Protection Service reported that temporary road traffic restrictions would be introduced during the Russian president's visit to Astana. It was emphasized that the special procedure would use “resources of special state services, law enforcement agencies and the armed forces, including military aviation and equipment.”
In early May, Financial Times sources reported that the Federal Protective Service (FSO) had significantly tightened security measures around Putin in recent months. According to informants, the president spends more time in underground bunkers due to growing fears for his life in connection with a potential assassination attempt or coup attempt.
Earlier, an ambulance was also spotted in Putin's convoy.
