More Than 50 Air Defense Turrets Built Around Putin’s Residence

Another 16 towers for air defense systems have been built around Vladimir Putin’s residence in Valdai, Russia.

The findings were reported by Radio Liberty, based on a joint analysis of satellite imagery with OSINT researcher jembob.

The total number of air defense positions in the area has exceeded 50.

According to the investigators, Russia built 16 towers in October within a 50-kilometer radius south of the residence, on the side facing Ukraine.

The new structures form an additional outer ring of air defenses, likely intended to house Pantsir surface-to-air gun-missile systems or Tor surface-to-air missile systems.

Journalists have not yet identified new positions in the northern part of the outer ring. They may be built over the coming months.

The new air defense ring runs through the Khotilovo military airfield and the area around the Vyshny Volochyok Reservoir.

One of the towers at Khotilovo airbase was built as early as March 2026. The airfield is used for Vladimir Putin’s flights, and a dedicated railway line connects its grounds to his residence in Valdai.

Several more positions have been established on the shore of the Vyshny Volochyok Reservoir, in the middle of which lies Lisiy Island.

Russian military personnel have built a laboratory complex on the island that, according to a Radio Liberty investigation, may be linked to Russia’s biological weapons development program.

Construction of two air defense towers near the facility began in early September, around the same time the investigation into the laboratory was published.

The total number of identified air defense positions around Valdai has therefore exceeded 50. This is roughly half the number of positions established to protect Moscow and the Moscow region since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Moscow and the surrounding region have a combined population of more than 20 million, while fewer than 100,000 people live in Valdai, Valdai District, and the surrounding area within a 50-kilometer radius.

Russia began deploying additional air defense systems near Putin’s residence in early 2023. This included the reported appearance of a Pantsir-S1 system in Yashcherovo, near the residence.

Russia is also strengthening air defenses around Moscow. In July, Militarnyi reported the construction of about 24 new towers for Pantsir systems in the Russian capital region.

In June, following a Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow in May, Russia built at least seven additional towers for Pantsir systems to the north and east of the capital.