Putin Fortifies Moscow Defense Dome but Exposes New Targets Across Russian Territory, Zelenskyy Says

Russia is reinforcing air defense rings around Moscow by relocating systems from across its regions, creating new opportunities for Ukrainian long-range strikes, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on May 6.

The Ukrainian president addressed the development in an evening statement following a report from the head of military intelligence, Oleh Ivashchenko. The briefing covered Russian plans for the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory and updated estimates of damage caused by Ukrainian deep strikes.

"Russian leadership is not preparing for the ceasefire about which so many statements were made, and worries more about its parade in Moscow than about all the rest of Russia," Zelenskyy stated, pointing to the redeployment.

The president instructed HUR  to draw up separate tasks focused on the Russian air defense network. He added that the buildup around the capital opens additional possibilities for Ukrainian long-range operations and that corresponding priorities will be defined.

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Zelenskyy also referenced internal Russian assessments showing that direct losses and disruptions to production and export processes are mounting under Ukrainian strikes. The impact on regional budgets is particularly severe, he noted, with the effective bankruptcy of a significant share of them impossible to conceal.

He reiterated that Ukraine has repeatedly proposed a ceasefire to build the trust required for substantive diplomacy and thanked partners for backing a mirrored approach toward Moscow.

The assessment from Ukrainian intelligence also coincides with separate reporting on a major air defense buildup around Moscow, as Russia has recently expanded its air defense network around Moscow with more than 40 additional Pantsir-S1 systems, amid growing concern over possible Ukrainian drone strikes on the capital.

Bild reported that satellite imagery identified 43 new air defense tower positions around Moscow, including sites along the Central Ring Road and nearby highways.

The systems are reportedly being placed on elevated towers to improve their ability to detect and intercept low-flying drones. Some Pantsir-S1 units were moved from other Russian regions, while additional launch sites appeared near Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports.

The buildup comes ahead of May 9 events in Moscow, when Russian authorities traditionally stage Victory Day commemorations and a military parade.

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