Putin seen in China with the Nuclear Briefcase; here's all about the Russian President's enigmatic companion

In rare footage unveiled recently, Russian President Vladimir Putin was observed in Beijing accompanied by officers bearing a mysterious companion – the nuclear briefcase. This briefcase holds the power to order a nuclear strike and is traditionally carried by a Russian naval officer.

The encounter occurred after a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. As Putin walked towards another meeting, he was flanked by security and followed closely by two Russian naval officers, each entrusted with one of these enigmatic briefcases. One of the officers' briefcases was discreetly zoomed in by the camera, revealing the secret apparatus within.

The Cheget

Russia's nuclear briefcase, known as the "Cheget" after Mount Cheget in the Caucasus Mountains, remains with the Russian president at all times. However, it is rarely captured on film, making these glimpses into its presence all the more intriguing.

According to Kremlin correspondents from the state news agency RIA, there are certain "suitcases without which no trip of Putin's is complete." The nature of the contents within these briefcases remains shrouded in secrecy.

The United States also has its own version of this device, known as the "nuclear football." This satchel holds the codes necessary for the U.S. president to authenticate a launch order for nuclear missiles in the event that they are not at the White House.

The Ukraine conflict has raised global tensions, especially between Moscow and Washington, to levels not seen since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. This occurs at a time when China is actively working to bolster its nuclear arsenal, aligning with its status as an emerging superpower.

All about the nuclear briefcase

The nuclear briefcase serves as a secure communication tool, connecting the president to the military's highest-ranking officers and, subsequently, to the rocket forces through the classified "Kazbek" electronic command-and-control network. This network also supports another system known as "Kavkaz."

The Russian defense minister, presently Sergei Shoigu, also possesses a nuclear briefcase, and the chief of the general staff, currently Valery Gerasimov, may have one as well.

Footage aired by Russia's Zvezda television channel in 2019 purportedly displayed one of these mysterious briefcases, revealing an array of buttons. Among these buttons, there are two of utmost importance: a white "launch" button and a red "cancel" button. Activation of the briefcase requires a special flashcard, according to Zvezda.

For historical reference, one of the nuclear briefcases used by former Russian President Boris Yeltsin is on display at the Yeltsin Museum in Yekaterinburg.

This rare display of the nuclear briefcase in Beijing took place during Putin's second known trip outside the former Soviet Union since the commencement of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022.

How it works

The nuclear briefcase is a secure communication tool that links the president to his military top brass and thence to rocket forces via the highly secret "Kazbek" electronic command-and-control network. The briefcase is traditionally carried by a naval officer. It is with the president at all times but is rarely filmed. The briefcase can be used to order a nuclear strike, and its contents have only been made public only once. The button that would activate the system is the central white one, and it would do so via an encrypted communication system. The briefcase is a serious part of Russia's nuclear weapon system and is a symbol of presidential authority in Russia

As international tensions persist, the enigmatic companion of world leaders continues to raise questions about the mechanisms of power and security in our rapidly evolving world.