On Chinese Jeeps and Without Sights: Mobile Anti Aircraft Fire Teams Deployed Near Kremlin

Russians deployed mobile AA fire teams near the Kremlin during a drone attack on Moscow.

RBC-Ukraine published a photo of one of the mobile AA fire teams.

In the image, Russian soldiers can be seen on a pickup truck equipped with a PKP Pecheneg machine gun designed to intercept drones. Particular attention is drawn to the lack of any equipment for detecting drones in the dark – such as a searchlight – as well as the absence of sights on the machine gun.

The vehicle being used resembles the Russian-Chinese pickup truck Sollers/JAC ST6, which is also manufactured by the Automotivetech plant in the city of Vladivostok.

In addition to fulfilling civilian orders, the company also planned in 2023 to load its production line with state defense orders, as noted by Oleg Kozhemyako, the governor of Primorsky Krai.

The Russians claimed to have shot down 193 Ukrainian drones, 43 of which were heading toward Moscow. Local residents also reported hearing explosions, likely linked both to the destruction of drones and to strikes on targets.

Over the past two months, a new air defense perimeter has been built around the Russian capital – with at least 21 new positions completed within a 50-kilometer radius of the city. Around 80% of these are located south of Moscow, in the direction of Ukraine. The vast majority of the positions are intended for the deployment of S-300 and S-400 surface-to-air missile systems. Towers and elevated platforms have also been constructed for the placement of Pantsir systems.