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While Moscow is protected by one of the world’s best air defense networks capable of shooting down ICBMs, incoming MIRV warheads, satellites and other space-based weapons, this doesn’t make it immune to sabotage attacks involving drones and drone swarms.
Written by Drago Bosnic, independent geopolitical and military analyst
Air defense is one of the key modern military capabilities that provide adequate protection for ground units, helping them retain their combat capabilities. In recent decades, these systems have become increasingly networked and multilayered, giving the defenders a plethora of options to shoot down hostile jets, missiles, drones, etc. More recently, modern militaries have started relying on swarms of well-coordinated drones designed to saturate an area and overwhelm existing air defenses. Only a handful of countries have developed and battle-tested systems against such new offensive weapons.
For well over half a century, Russia has been at the forefront of the development of various SAM (surface-to-air missile) systems and other types of air defenses. What started out as an effort to nullify Western long-range bomber advantage in the aftermath of the Second World War soon turned into a key area of defense strategy without which it’s impossible to imagine modern warfare. By the 1970s, air defenses were no longer only focused on enemy fighter jets or bombers, but also on ballistic missiles and even space assets, both civilian and military (although this divide seems to be blurring by the day, especially when taking into account projects such as the SpaceX’s “Starlink”).
In recent days, the footage taken in Russia shows that short-range air defenses, particularly the now legendary “Pantsir” hybrid SAM-AAA (anti-aircraft artillery) system, are being deployed to protect crucial areas in the capital city of Moscow. Dozens of sources have published both video and photo evidence that a number of “Pantsir-S1” SAM-AAA systems have been placed on top of certain key buildings in Moscow, triggering speculation that Russia is expecting renewed attacks by the Kiev regime forces. It’s quite possible that this also includes defending from long-range Soviet-made drones such as the now infamous Tu-141 “Strizh” that flew nearly 600 km through NATO’s air defenses in Romania, Hungary and Croatia in early March last year.
The 1970s-era jet-powered drone was also used during December attacks against Russian airbases housing strategic bombers/missile carriers. Initial reports suggested that the Kiev regime forces launched the Tu-141, but more recent findings indicate that this isn’t necessarily true for all attacks deep within Russia, with some security experts warning about sabotage attacks (apparently, coordinated by the CIA), including with small drones operated by infiltration teams or even a single sleeper agent. Whichever of the two possibilities is true, the “Pantsir” SAM-AAA system has been proven against both types of attacks, shooting down thousands of drones, missiles, rockets and other weapons in the Middle East and more recently in Ukraine, including the infamous HIMARS.
All this might be the reason behind ramping up Russian air defenses in critically important areas, particularly in the capital city. In addition, the number of exercises involving advanced SAM systems just outside Moscow has also increased dramatically. Over the weekend, the Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed this in an official statement:
“In the Moscow oblast [region], a training session was held with the personnel of the anti-aircraft missile brigade of the Western Military District on repelling air attacks on important military, industrial and administrative facilities. The combat exercise was centered on the operation of a S-300 anti-aircraft missile system. As they marched, soldiers repelled an attack by a mock enemy sabotage group on a military convoy. Under the cover of a smoke screen, the air defense convoy was able to get out of the attack and continue fulfilling its tasks.”
Russia’s capital is protected by one of the most extensive air defense networks in the world and it also includes systems capable of shooting down ICBMs (intercontinental ballistic missiles), incoming MIRV (multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle) warheads, satellites and other space-based assets used by its adversaries. However, this doesn’t make Moscow immune to sabotage attacks involving the aforementioned drones and drone swarms. Sleeper agents operating small drones (military or even commercial) might be able to jeopardize critically important targets, particularly in Moscow, which has an extremely high concentration of institutions of vital significance for Russia, be it the state itself, its military, industrial capacity, etc.
While the country’s capital still hasn’t seen such attacks, this possibility should never be excluded, especially now when the Kiev regime is desperate to gain at least some propaganda wins and get more weapons from the political West to have a chance against Russia’s upcoming offensive. This is particularly true as the Russian military is steadily advancing in the Donbass and more recently in the Zaporozhye oblast (region), in addition to weeks of breakthroughs around the city of Bakhmut/Artyomovsk in the DNR. The Neo-Nazi junta will hopelessly try to respond to any new large-scale operation by Russia and it appears that Moscow is simply preparing for this contingency, especially at the time when the US-led political West is expanding its comprehensive aggression against Russia.
The US has a mere 700 launchers and Russia having 235 cites if Russia can intercept 3 warheads per city and can shelter up to 40 million people.
how do USA win a nuclear exchange? it makes no sense
They don’t plan on it. The idea is the Americans believe they only have to destroy the western military district and Moscow and the nearby major cities and then will roll over the remainder of Russia without any resistance. Europe would be a sacrificial pawn and those in power in the USA see themselves as untouchable and will reap the control and benefits of their imaginary outcome. Fictional work at best, and the Wet dreams of many elites truly.
It is quite likely that the rest of the world would sympathise with Russia after a nuclear exchange and Russia would survive in some form in Siberia, whereas the West’s ideology would be destroyed fully and the West’s surviving hangmen would be hanged, with approval from Third World countries and China.
No the world will be Angry and destroy Russia if they ever drop a Nuclear Bomb anywhere!
Well it has been working so far, not even the Americans could have believed that the Russians could be so Incompetent, this War is going smoothly for the West and is a total disaster for Russia, if you don’t believe look at Putin’s Sad, Downcast face in every interview now, notice how he talks with his head down and In a Low Hush Voice
Even Putin knows he lost the War, too bad that message has not been passed down to the Pro-Putin guys in the comment section, even the Russians themselves know that they are doomed!
That assumes Russia is willing to abandon the treaty restricting the delpoyment of Anti-Balistic Missile systems to one each for America and Russia. On the one hand it is probably a good idea to build S-series systems unofficially capable of such feats and claim it as an incidental but even that risks the west A: Abusing the fact that Russia would in fact be in breach of an international treaty to further attack their repuation and B: Massively expanding it’s launch capabilities and probably number of missiles per launcher thus further jeopardising life on Earth which is exactly what the treaty aims to avoid either side doing.
Which treaty if Russia is under attack? The post makes no sense to me
Only Moscow matter. Other 234 russian cities with poor, old, inbred population doesn’t matter…
“Only Moscow matter. Other 234 russian cities with poor, old, inbred population doesn’t matter…” … the same bullshit which Napoleon , Hitler and others thought.
Putting these implants on the buildings……..so they are strong armored buildings, sure………………the Pantsir weigh tons. A common building would be broken through. It’s all part of the Art of War.
The fact that the building can support the vehicle and munitions is actually impressive. That said, most government building in Moscow can survive heavy bombardment. Even a nuclear blast might not outright destroy some buildings. I saw a photo with several launchers on a single roof. Good construction work done there. Meanwhile buildings, bridges and roads in USA collapse randomly with minor environmental causes. Goes to show that money wasn’t well spent in some countries.
There must be a shit ton of rebar in that roof slab. Id guess double mat 25m bars 1′ spacing.
Soviets had a long love affair with concrete. Even cottages and bus stops were often made of it. I remember concrete picture frames in memorial parks.
Why? Because dictator Putin ordered so from his bunker. That’s why.
US and UK have been killing and genocides 6 million of innocent peoples in the Middle East lol.
Zelensky outlaws Ukraine’s most popular church, but Putin is a dictator right?
Right. He is a dictator.
Could you specify your source?
Moscow authorities are scared, too many people started leaving the city. Many more will leave soon… This is smokescreen so those who decided to stay feel ‘safe’
Why would they leave Moscow?
nonsense , neither are the people leaving nor are the authorities scared. Read the article: it’s about drones and kamikaze missions of the Ukras. The threat is serious and the defence is serious , that’s all. If there were no prevention , you would post : stupid unable Putin doesn’t care about his Capital. No matter what happens , you have always templates for your posts :)
Wet dream for yourself feel good lol.
Anyway US and UK have been killing and genocides 6 million of innocent peoples in the Middle East lol.
You’re just repeating delusional Ukronazi misinformation.
To think that Russia will not fight back any attack is utterly idiotic. Russia has submarines on both the east and west coasts within 100 miles. in 3 minutes they arrive in America. Everyone’s Foolish Thoughts. What she wants to avoid is stray sheep or even internal terror.
I hope you are right. But also don’t overlook the puppetmasters’ nests in other countries.
Any attempt by nato to enter Russia would be very costly for them . A nato army say of more than 150.000 attempting to fight its way across the Russian border with forests and open land mass for hundreds of miles not to mention hundreds of towns and villages like napoleon and others nato losses would be on a scale that the Western public could not envisage.
The fact they are felt to be needed could in fact be a very worrying sign for NATO, given the talk about supplying ATACMS and F16’s while ignoring red lines. What kind of escalation could happen in the event of strikes on Moscow?
The satanic freemasons behind this aggressive push for war in Ukraine deserve to be put on trial for starting aggressive war.
Also from drones launched by partisans from within Russian territory
Pantsirs on defence ministry building looks fantastic. It’s a sign of power. We haven’t seen anything like this before. Nor will we ever see. It’s just too creative and inventive. The guy with this idea should a get a noble price.
Is it a ploy to make NATO think Putin is still home with the lights on waiting for a massive NATO air campaign to start on the Russian capital? Maybe… Maybe not. Is it to protect the building from stray S300’s fired out of Kiev? Perhaps? They may also be there to prevent anymore soviet era drones from a successful strike on Moscow’s Russian civilians, a favorite NATO target. Anyway you look at it, it makes sense, no point asking why, during war the answers are usually pretty obvious… Cause NATO bombs civilians! Nuff said.
Times are tough at MI6 and the CIA these days. Their narratives appeal to monkeys and they dont do regime change like they used to. That’s what happens when you are satan’s little whores. It eats you up from the inside
This is against light -drones (Quadcopters & al) use by inland terrorists : a grenade on a roof is still better than a grenade on a open market or an open street. For missiles ; AA in a city center is not a good idea : you can’t risk the fall of several hundred kilos of warheads explosives in an urban area unless you don’t care about people living there … as the banderists do.