Wow I have just watched the video and couldn't understand how Russians left Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu vulnerable against a possible air attack? This is weird as hell.
His plane doesn't have a long range radar. They'd have to send something like that to follow him and warn of incoming planes.If a supersonic jet comes at you and you're flying a big cow like the minister, you can only sit and watch. If that F-16 pilot wanted to shoot him down there would be no stopping him. Escort would probably shoot him down after the fact, but the minister's plane would be a fireball.
AWACS - is handy also for coordinating all the stuff in the air.
Yeah for sure an F16 could shoot him down but that .. i don#t even want to imagine! To be honest, could start just WW3 ..