- Category
- War in Ukraine
Kremlin Rings Moscow With 40 New Air Defense Systems as Fear of Ukrainian Drones Grows
- Authors
![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Russia has significantly expanded its air defense network around Moscow, deploying more than 40 additional Pantsir-S1 air defense systems in 2025 amid growing concerns over potential Ukrainian drone strikes.
We bring you stories from the ground. Your support keeps our team in the field.
According to Bild on May 6, satellite imagery identified 43 newly installed air defense tower positions surrounding the Russian capital. The systems form part of a layered defensive network positioned along Moscow’s Central Ring Road (TsKAD) and the adjacent “small concrete ring” highway, reviving elements of a Soviet-era “small ring” air defense concept that was originally designed during the Cold War.
Bild reported that some of the Pantsir systems were transferred from other Russian regions, indicating that the Kremlin is prioritizing the protection of Moscow over other areas.
New Pantsir-S1 positions were reportedly identified near Zelenograd and Podolsk, within a highway interchange near Gzhel on the TsKAD, at a former radio engineering facility near Naro-Fominsk, and close to a firing range operated by Russia’s Central Research Institute for Precision Machine Building (TsNIITochMash), which is part of the state-owned Rostec corporation.
Additional launch sites were also established near Moscow’s Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports.
The Pantsir-S1 is a short-to-medium-range air defense system designed to intercept drones, cruise missiles, and low-flying aircraft. Russia has increasingly deployed the systems on rooftops and elevated platforms in and around Moscow since Ukrainian long-range drone strikes began targeting infrastructure deep inside Russian territory.
The expansion of Moscow’s defenses comes as Russian authorities continue to express concerns over drone attacks ahead of Russia’s May 9 Victory Day events.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that drones “can also fly to this parade,” referring to the annual military parade in Moscow. Zelenskyy also noted that Russia’s May 9 parade would reportedly take place without military vehicles this year.
The reported reinforcement of Moscow’s air defenses also follows recent changes in Russia’s military leadership. In early May, Russia replaced Aerospace Forces commander Viktor Afzalov with Colonel General Aleksandr Chaiko after a series of drone attacks that Russian air defense systems failed to prevent.
Discuss this article:
-9a7b3a98ed5c506e0b77a6663f5727c5.png)
-111f0e5095e02c02446ffed57bfb0ab1.jpeg "Photo of Roman Kohanets")
