Among the most closely guarded elements of his overseas travel are his customised presidential aircraft, popularly known as the “Flying Kremlin”, and his heavily armoured Aurus Senat limousine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in New Delhi for the 18th BRICS Summit, accompanied by an elaborate security convoy.
The Aurus Senat is among the world’s most secretive and heavily protected vehicles, reflecting the extraordinary security measures surrounding the Russian president, who has led the country for nearly 25 years. Putin goes a step further by taking his own official car with him While world leaders often travel abroad in their personal aircraft.
The same limousine grabbed attention last year when Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled with Putin in the vehicle during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in China.
Its styling draws inspiration from the Soviet-era ZIS-110 limousine.
The Senat was introduced in 2018 under Russia’s “Kortezh” project, a programme aimed at developing domestically produced luxury and armoured vehicles for government use. For Putin, the Aurus Senat is more than a luxury limousine. It is a crucial part of his security arrangements whenever he travels outside Russia, allowing the Russian president to maintain the same level of protection on foreign soil as he does at home.
