President Putin (AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to be increasing the use of armored “special trains” after his invasion of Ukraine. Proect, an independent Russian media outlet, reported on the 14th. Putin is believed to be increasingly using trains, which are less likely to be tracked, rather than planes to ensure his personal safety.
By 2019, the government will build a railway network and stations dedicated to Mr Putin, according to Proect. It connects Moscow with Vardai, Novgorod province in the northwest, where Mr. Putin’s second residence is located. The station is located underground and is managed by the Presidential Security Bureau.
As for Putin’s shift to rail, multiple media outlets point out that unlike planes, trains are not easy to track. Putin may be avoiding planes for fear of being assassinated after a car bombing in Russia last August that targeted philosopher Dugin, who supports the invasion.
