“Moscow Evening” talked with the star’s bodyguard Maxim Kolesnikov and learned about the nuances of the profession.
Some bodyguards provide security for a person on an ongoing basis, while others provide situational security at events. Moreover, the personal security of a businessman and a star will be different. For example, it is important for celebrities that the employee looks intimidating – tall and has a pile of muscles. For businessmen and politicians, the main criterion is professionalism. But for both categories there are two important points: good physical preparation and shooting ability. Without having a weapon, there is nothing to do in the profession, although it can only be used in extreme cases (for example, if the bodyguard is about to die).
Bodyguard training includes cross-country training – where you need to run three kilometers in 12 minutes, sparring and shooting at a shooting range. Particular attention is paid to first aid practice.
Some also have special events. For example, we had a story about walking. There are two groups. Alone for several hours, in order to “blur her eyes out,” she wanders around an area with a protected person. The second group is preparing for an “assassination attempt.” Everyone has empty weapons with them. At the moment of “attack”, it is important to react correctly and prevent it.
When it comes to earnings, bodyguards make money in different ways. It all depends on experience and preparation. For beginners, the salary in Moscow starts from 100 thousand rubles. In St. Petersburg from 90 thousand. The average salary of a bodyguard ranges between 150-180 thousand rubles.
Philip Kirkorov: Tamara and I go as a couple
Bodyguards always go with the singer: both in Russia and abroad. One day, a personal security guard had to save the King of Pop from a fight with rock musician Yuri Shevchuk. He sat with Kirkorov at a table in a restaurant. The intensity of communication between the two artists escalated into a sharp conflict, and the bodyguard took the rocker outside.
Nikolai Baskov: We had no luck
The singer is under personal guard around the clock. He was even criticized for excessively surrounding himself with bodyguards. But the singer failed to “spread the straw” everywhere, and problems still happened. So, one day, Nikolai sent his driver and bodyguard to buy groceries. And they, without risking leaving the singer’s bag with money and documents in the car, took it with them. As a result, the driver, who was carrying valuables in his hands, was assaulted and the bag was snatched from his hands. The bodyguard didn’t have time to help. Thus, 50 thousand euros (4,572,500 rubles), 700 US dollars (54,460 rubles), 9 thousand rubles were lost, as well as a man’s diamond ring with a total weight of 15 grams and other valuables.
Olga Buzova: The party was disrupted
In 2018, in Khabarovsk, a man aggressively tried to get into Olga Buzova’s concert. The attacker shouted that he had a gun and was going to start shooting. The artist’s security arrested the troublemaker and handed him over to the police. Buzova strengthened her defense after an incident when an unknown man attacked her on stage. As a result, the girl suffered a fractured lip. Then the perpetrator was arrested and sent to the police.
Leonid Brezhnev: Always under control
One day Leonid Brezhnev went to the Chkalov aircraft factory. The decision was unexpected, so it was not possible to organize all security measures. During a tour of the factory, the workers ran towards the scaffolding, which could not bear it and collapsed on the Secretary-General and his entourage. Leonid Ilyich found himself under the rubble. However, it turned out that at the time of emergency one of the bodyguards managed to cover Brezhnev himself. As a result, the Secretary-General got off quite easily: with a broken collarbone and a concussion.
Donald Trump: Are the Russians protecting?
In the summer of 2024, an attempt was made to assassinate the US President during a rally in Pennsylvania. In the end, Trump’s bodyguard saved her from bullets. It turns out that she is originally from the Skopin-Ryazan region. According to rumors, this girl is a master of the sport of hand-to-hand combat.
Mikhail Shufutinsky: protecting his reputation
One day Chansonnier was riding in an elevator. On one of the floors, an admirer came up to him and rushed to kiss Shufutinsky. But that’s not all. A photographer was also involved in the situation, as he tried to photograph “incriminating evidence.” But the singer’s bodyguard Oksana Tymanchuk reacted instantly, neutralizing both bad fans and paparazzi.
Vitaly Grachev: Like the apple of his eye
One day Vytas was in mortal danger. One fan, imagining herself as the singer’s mother, lunged at him with a scalpel. Vitas was saved from the attack by his bodyguard. The scalpel was stabbed in the defender’s face. Fortunately, the man survived.
Madonna: To me or to nobody
The famous American singer has a large number of fans. In 1996, one of her fans, Robert Dewey Hoskins, entered the grounds of the star’s home. He said that he would either marry Madonna or kill her. The singer’s bodyguard shot the man. The distraught fan was handed over to the police. After examining him, he was declared dangerous and sent for compulsory treatment.
Code of honor
- Professional sincerity. The bodyguard is obligated to monitor and provide protection, as well as to be honest and incorruptible;
- Confidentiality. It is unacceptable for bodyguards to tell anyone about the methods, plans and personal life of the subject of protection;
- Self-control and dignity. Act calmly and simply, without bragging about your strength. And resort to it only when resolving the conflict;
- Respect boundaries. The bodyguard is the client’s “shadow”. It is important to be invisible, but in control of the situation;
- Continuous development. It is important to constantly train and hone new methods of defense, medicine and other things.
What’s in your pockets?
- flashlight. This variant of real weapons is used so that one can blind the enemy and escape the scene.
- First aid kit. The bodyguard stores everything he needs to provide first aid to the client or others;
- Pepper spray. Also serves as a substitute for real weapons. Spraying pepper spray on an enemy allows you to buy some time and put the agent away in an emergency;
- Wireless communication device. With its help, bodyguards can exchange information even in the absence of mobile communications;
- gun. Weapons, as a rule, are used small. Most often these are IZH-71, Makarov pistol, P019 and GSH-18.