The Helmet And Ballistic Vest That President Zelensky And His Bodyguard Are Wearing Are Made In Turkey, Specially Ordered

President Zelensky with his team of guards during a tour of the area around Kyiv (Wikimedia Commons/President.gov.ua)

JAKARTA - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and a number of his security forces have made several public appearances wearing helmets and anti-ballistic protective vests, following the Russian invasion since February 24.

Reporting Daily Sabah, April 20, the helmet and vest are said to be manufactured by the company from central Turkey. This fact emerged after the Minister of Industry and Technology, Mustafa Varank, visited the Garanti Kompozit factory in the Yozgat organized industrial area.

During his meeting with factory officials, Varank was told the company had manufactured and shipped helmets and vests for President Zelensky and his team, after receiving a special request in the first days of Russia's military campaign in Ukraine.

"They asked for 20 helmets and vests for President Zelenskyy and his team, so we sent them, we are happy to see them on TV," Kompozit Garanti Manager Vedat Tüzer said.

The company further says it uses high-tech materials to produce a variety of protective ballistic composite products, clothing, and performance-enhancing equipment for military, professional and civilian use.

Varank highlighted that special protective equipment came to the fore because of the Russo-Ukrainian war.

"In addition to the production of vital defense equipment that protects our security forces, the export of these products is very important for our country to demonstrate the point that has been reached in production," said Varank.

"I am very happy to see the point where the private sector comes in, especially in the defense industry. A lot of military equipment is produced in Yozgat and shipped to more than 50 countries in the world," he explained.

At the same time, Tüzer said the company has supplied nearly 80 percent of ballistic helmets in Turkey since 2013.

Until 2013, helmets and vests like these were usually supplied from foreign US companies or Israeli partners, with Tüzer saying purchases were made for around $1.900.

"We solved this. We supply our products to Turkey and abroad," he concluded.