Putin communicates with officials only via secure lines – Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin never contacts members of his administration via landline or mobile phones, instead using secure communication channels, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Peskov made the remarks during a conversation with Kremlin pool journalist Alexander Yunashev.

Asked whether presidential administration officials could ignore a call from Putin while on vacation, Peskov said: "The president never calls via a landline or mobile phone. After all, he uses secure communications."

The Kremlin spokesman also noted that presidential administration officials generally do not have access to secure communication lines while on vacation.

He added that Putin has not taken a vacation this summer despite a decline in news activity. Peskov acknowledged that the Russian leader's lack of time off also affects him personally, as he usually takes his own vacation during the same weeks.

By Jeyhun Aghazada