Inside Vladimir Putin’s $716 million ‘Flying Kremlin’ jet

With its full gym, king-size bed and gold toilet, Vladimir Putin’s presidential jet – which flew him to Geneva this week – puts others to shame.

The world was given another glimpse of Vladimir Putin’s $716 million “Flying Kremlin” jet as it touched down in Switzerland this week ahead of the Russian President’s crunch talks with US counterpart Joe Biden.

But it’s what’s inside the lavish presidential jet that’s even more impressive – including a full gym complete with treadmills, weightlifting set-up and boxing bag, and a bathroom with a gold-plated toilet.

Other luxurious trappings on Mr Putin’s private Ilyushin Il-96-300PU are a bar that’s fully stocked with top-shelf whiskeys and wines and a bedroom featuring a king-size bed.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin aboard his presidential plane. Picture: Mikhail Klimentyev/TASS via Getty Images

A gold toilet is one of the more ostentatious features on the presidential jet. Picture: CEN/Australscope

The lavish Ilyushin Il-96 landed at Geneva for the US-Russia summit in Switzerland this week. Picture: Alessandro della Valle/Keystone via Getty Images

The interior decor has a neoclassical style featuring luxurious white leather and the huge conference table is gold-trimmed.

The Russian coat of arms is embossed on many of the walls and furniture pieces.

Mr Putin is reported to have clocked up more air miles in high office than all other Russian leaders put together.

The presidential jet, which was made by the Voronezh Aircraft Production Association, is capable of hitting speeds of up to 900km/h.

The plane also comes with a fully equipped gym. Picture: CEN/Australscope

Mr Putin sleeps in a king-size bed on the plane. Picture: CEN/Australscope

It is equipped with an advanced communication system that allows it to act as a management centre capable of commanding troops during combat.

Il-96 aircraft have been a preferred model for flying Russian presidents, with former leader Boris Yeltsin also flying on them.

It’s believed Mr Putin has a squad of four of the Il-96 planes to choose from for security reasons.

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Mr Putin reportedly deploys more than one of the aircraft for security reasons. Picture: Alexei Druzhinin/TASS via Getty Images

As soon as knowledge of an international flight is public, all four aircraft are readied for departure but the specific plane to be used by Putin is not known until takeoff.

After the choice is made, either one or all three of the remaining planes follow the President as the reserve.

The lavish fleet has attracted criticism from Russian citizens, especially after photos of Mr Putin’s planes were leaked on the internet in 2015.

A blogger calling himself Kungurov who first published the pictures after getting hold of them from a contact in Russia’s Ministry of Defence fumed: “Our self-proclaimed Tsar has decided to give himself a gift on his 15th anniversary of assuming the crown by whipping his slaves into paying for two luxurious IL-96 airliners for him.

“The first, an IL-96-300, will cost us taxpayers 3.75 billion roubles ($68.7 million). The second, IL-96-300-PU (M1) will cost 5.2 billion ($95.1 million).”

– with The Sun