Russia’s Air Defense Shift to Moscow Opens Strike Opportunities — Zelensky

The mass transfer of Russian air defense systems to Moscow ahead of a military parade opens up new opportunities for Ukraine to conduct long-range strikes on Russian territory.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky stated this following a report of the Chief of Defense Intelligence, Oleh Ivashchenko.

According to the president, in recent weeks Russia has been reinforcing air defense around Moscow by redeploying systems from other regions.

Zelensky said the Russian leadership is more focused on securing the parade in Moscow than protecting other parts of the country.

At the same time, the Ukrainian side notes that weakened air defense in certain regions of Russia creates additional opportunities for long-range strikes.

The president said the Defense Intelligence had received specific tasks related to the Russian air defense system.

Ukrainian intelligence also reported growing economic losses in Russia as a result of Ukrainian long-range strikes.

According to Zelensky, the strikes are having a particularly negative impact on regional budgets and on production and export infrastructure.

In recent years, Russia has significantly strengthened layered air defense around Moscow in response to repeated drone attacks.

In particular, additional Pantsir-S1 systems have been deployed around the Russian capital, including on administrative buildings and near government facilities.

Russian authorities have also repeatedly restricted airport operations in Moscow due to the threat of drone attacks.

“Russia must take real steps to end the war, and not concentrate resources only on protecting the capital before the parade,” the president of Ukraine said.