Another ring of air defence positions is gradually being built around the Russian capital Moscow, primarily from Pantsir surface-to-air missile systems on towers. The Russian Service of Radio Liberty found this out with the help of OSINT-enthusiasts, studying satellite images of the Moscow region and neighbouring regions of the Russian Federation.
The journalists stumbled upon the first tower of the new “ring” on 16 February, when they managed to geolocate a photo of an air defence missile trail near Kashira.
Currently, the number of air defence systems that have surrounded Russia’s capital since 2023 has exceeded 100 units, according to Radio Liberty’s interactive map.
At the same time, journalists discovered that shortly before 9 May, Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s residence in Valdai was blurred out on “Yandex. Maps.” Previously, Yandex blurred only military facilities and enterprises of Russia’s military-industrial complex on the satellite map.
Earlier, the Russian Service of Radio Liberty found out that for several years Putin’s Valdai residence, where his likely companion Alina Kabaeva and their sons spend a lot of time, was surrounded by more than 25 air defence systems.
The Kremlin said on 7 May that Russian President Vladimir Putin was being guarded as closely as heads of state around the world, but that additional security measures were being introduced until 9 May, when Russia celebrates Victory Day in World War II in Europe.
At the same time, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied Western media reports that, citing an unnamed European intelligence agency, said the Kremlin had sharply increased security around Putin because of fears of a coup or assassination attempt.