Russian fighter aircraft have begun escorting President Vladimir Putin on his visits to Russian regions, as reported by the Agentstvo media site. This was evident during his recent visit to Yakutsk on June 18, where residents filmed Putin’s “Air Force One” accompanied by a Su-30SM multirole fighter aircraft.
The Su-30SM, valued at $33 million, is a fourth-generation Russian fighter designed for various roles, including air superiority, escort missions, and surveillance. Previously, fighter escorts were only used during foreign visits.
According to Andriy Yusov from Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (НUR), this practice has become increasingly common, with Putin also being accompanied by fighter jets on trips to other countries.
In December 2023, the Russian Defense Ministry released footage of Su-35 aircraft accompanying Putin’s plane to the UAE for security reasons in a turbulent region. Moreover, concerns for Putin’s safety have led to the use of bulletproof vests during public events.
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