Russian authorities appear to be preparing a new site for air defense systems inside a protected park in western Moscow, according to open-source intelligence analysts cited by The Moscow Times.
Satellite images reviewed by OSINT researchers show a large cleared area in Moscow’s Moskvoretsky Park near the Kuntsevo district.
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Analysts say the site resembles several locations where Russia previously deployed S-300 and S-400 surface-to-air missile systems after launching its full-scale invasion on Ukraine.
OSINT analyst Mark Krutov said satellite imagery indicates that concrete platforms suitable for air defense systems have been constructed at the site.
Another researcher, known as Jembob, noted that the location sits on one of the highest points in western Moscow within the city’s ring road, making it a potentially advantageous position for air defense operations.
The newly cleared area measures approximately 290 by 150 meters (951 by 492 feet) and is connected to nearby roads by a newly cut corridor through the forest, according to satellite imagery.
Similar sites appeared across Moscow
Analysts say the new location closely resembles at least three other air defense positions established around Moscow since 2022.
Previous sites have been identified near the former fields of the Timiryazev Agricultural Academy in northern Moscow, as well as near Sokolniki, Losiny Ostrov, and Izmailovo parks.
The latest construction has sparked criticism from local residents because the area is part of a protected natural zone established in 1998. Residents reportedly protested tree-cutting operations earlier this year.
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New explosions
On Tuesday, multiple fires were reported across occupied Crimea while traffic on the Kerch Bridge was suspended for more than five hours amid reports of explosions and possible strikes on fuel and transport infrastructure.
According to monitoring groups, fires were also observed near the entrance to Kerch, around the settlement of Bagerove, where Russian S-300 and S-400 air-defense positions are located, as well as near the Yuzhna railway station.
Russia’s S-300 and S-400 systems form the backbone of Moscow’s air defense network and have been increasingly deployed around the capital since Ukraine began conducting long-range drone strikes deep inside Russian territory.
The S-400 can engage aircraft, cruise missiles and some ballistic missiles at ranges of up to 400 kilometers (249 miles), while the older S-300 remains widely used for air defense and, in some cases, ground attacks.
Russia has repeatedly used S-300 missiles to strike Ukrainian cities near the front line, including Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Mykolaiv, despite the system originally being designed to intercept aerial targets.
The deployments intensified after Ukrainian drones reached Moscow’s oil refineries and other strategic facilities, exposing vulnerabilities in Russia’s air defense network.
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