### Kremlin's PR Move: Putin Reportedly Faces Drone Fire in Kursk Visit

In a recent visit to the Kursk region, President Vladimir Putin's helicopter allegedly came under fire from Ukrainian drones. This event, seemingly dramatic, was reported to have been carefully staged by the Kremlin to convey a specific message to the Russian public.

According to four current and former Russian officials, the incident was engineered to show Putin as a leader willing to sacrifice for his country. These sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, revealed that the Kremlin aimed to portray Putin as enduring the same hardships that ordinary Russians face amid the ongoing conflict.

Despite the Kursk region being a frequent target of Ukrainian attacks, Putin's safety was never genuinely at risk, officials confirmed. The elaborate security measures in place ensured his well-being, and officials dismissed the notion of any actual danger as implausible.

The Defense Ministry amplified the narrative by making sensational claims through state media, suggesting that Putin's helicopter was at the "epicenter of repelling a massive attack by enemy drones." However, the visit was kept under wraps until after Putin had safely returned to Moscow.

Notably, the alleged drone attack on Putin's helicopter was reported by Andrei Kolesnikov, a Kommersant journalist, who did not actually travel to Kursk. His article was based on secondhand information rather than first-hand experience.

The footage released by the Kremlin from Putin's trip also hinted at the staged nature of the event. Unlike the usual high-quality videos from presidential events, this footage was shaky, had poor sound quality, and lacked the usual professionalism. This indicates that the recording was managed by individuals other than the Kremlin's usual professional team, possibly including security officers.

A key aspect of Putin's security involves extensive planning and the deployment of hundreds of officers from various agencies, including the Presidential Security Service (SBP), FSB, National Guard, and Interior Ministry. These measures ensure that his movements are covert and secure, with backup motorcades, parallel routes, and decoy aircraft.

Former Federal Guard Service officer Vitaly Brizhaty, now exiled from Russia, emphasized the extreme secrecy surrounding Putin's travels, highlighting that even intelligence officials are often unaware of his exact whereabouts. Brizhaty noted that Putin relies solely on his inner circle, reflecting a deep mistrust of the broader security services.

Military expert Ivan Stupak criticized the incident as a hypothetical security failure, suggesting that if it were real, numerous officials should have faced immediate dismissal. Instead, Stupak and investigative journalist Andrei Soldatov view the event as a well-coordinated media performance designed to enhance Putin's heroic image and justify the security services' challenging roles.

This orchestrated PR move elevates Putin's persona, portraying him as a leader sharing the people's suffering while bolstering the perceived competence of Russia's security apparatus.