Vladimir Putin spotted again with mysterious 'nuclear briefcase', but it's not what you think

For much of the past weeks, reports were not able to place Vladimir Putin. Having cancelled important public annual events in his agenda, rumours suggested the Russian Presidentis preparing an emergency escape plan due to the debacle in Ukraine.

This week, Putin resurfaced in a regional trip to Belarus. The striking images of his arrival show the Russian President is accompanied by men who are not his bodyguardsbut instead carry the Russian 'nuclear briefcase'.

Meeting with Russia's number one ally

Speaking about the meeting, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, described Belarus as Russia's 'number one ally', Metro reports.

In February, Putin usedBelarus as a launching pad for his troops to attack Ukraine. Similarly, now Ukrainians fear that Putin's current visit to Minsk is about inviting Belarus to join the fight and launch a renewed offensive in 2023.

There are currently large-scale negotiations taking place between the ally countries, but it is unclear what specifically. Nevertheless, the idea of a joint offensive was dismissed by Peskov:

Talk of Moscow pressuring Minsk into its "special military operation" were stupid and unfounded fabrications.

Nuclear 'Cheget'

Reports suggest Putin travels everywhere while being equipped with the 'nuclear briefcase' or 'Cheget' as it is called in Russia.

According to Newsweek, both the US and Russia possess these special nuclear briefcases which can remotely initiate a nuclear weapon strike.

In the case of the US, the briefcase is known as the 'nuclear football' or officially as the Presidential Emergency Satchel. While in Russia, the briefcase bears the name of a mountain range called 'Cheget'.

Unlike the American version, little is known about the Russian nuclear 'Cheget'. Although the available information is scarce, contrary to public opinion, neither briefcase actually contains a 'red button' for directly launching a nuclear missile.

According to various experts, the briefcases are armoured and contain an emergency broadcast system that enables Putin to transmit launch orders to the central military command of Russia's general staff.

However, Russia's nuclear policy does not authorise attacks, but merely defensive retaliation strikes. It also places the authority about nuclear strikes away from one person alone.

The nuclear doctrine as it is called dictates Russia's use of nukes only if reliable data shows that nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass extinction have been deployed on Russia or its allies.

Other situations of retaliation include if a country attacks 'critical governmental or military sites' or if the existence of Russia is put in jeopardy.

For months now, due to the catastrophic situation in Ukraine, Putin has repeatedly threatened the use of nuclear weapons. The public appearance with the nuclear 'cheget' is his attempt at intimidating politicians, Metro reports.

Sources used:

-Metro: ‘Putin brings 'nuclear briefcase' to crunch talks with Lukashenko’

-Newsweek: ‘How Putin's 'Nuclear Football' Really Works’