Russia Puts More Air Defense Systems on Moscow Rooftops to Boost Anti-Drone Protection

The number of air defense systems in central Moscow is being boosted to protect the Kremlin against Ukraine’s long-range drone attacks, Ukrainian media have reported.

A video posted on social media last week claims to show a Pantsir-SMD-E air defense system being hoisted into position on top of the Nord Star business center by a military helicopter on a rainy day.  

Ukrainian publication Defense Express said this is the fourth known Pantsir system positioned in the city, with systems already positioned on rooftops to the southwest, southeast and north of the Kremlin.  

The three Pantsir-S1 systems were installed in 2023 on top of the ministries of defense and internal affairs, as well as an office building.  

‘Legitimate’ targets 

The publication points out that the positioning of the air defense systems in heavily populated areas shows little regard for civilian life. 

The Nord Star business center is located close to a residential building and a school, it says, citing a map from Google.  

The locations raise “serious concerns under international humanitarian law and may turn those structures into legitimate military objectives,” Defense Express wrote. 

Additionally, there may be increased risks of falling debris as the weapons system’s missiles “use booster stages that separate after launch and fall uncontrolled to the ground.” 

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Zelensky: Russia Shifts Donetsk Capture Deadlines – Now at 15 Attempts

Russia has set 15 different deadlines to seize Ukraine’s Donetsk region, repeatedly postponing its goal and sacrificing more troops.

Ukraine has increased its long-range strikes and drone attacks into Russian territory in recent months. On May 17, over 100 drones were shot down in the Moscow region.  

Open-source intelligence researchers estimate there are roughly 130 air defense positions in and around Moscow.