Steel Ring of Security: Vladimir Putin's secret palace under heavy guard following Ukraine drone incursion
drone strikes by Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin has fortified the defenses surrounding his palace in Valdai, located north of Moscow. Satellite images captured on May 6 reveal at least seven medium-range air defense systems deployed near the extensive forest estate on Lake Valdai's shores, as reported by the US-based think tank, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Prioritizing High-Value Targets
According to The Telegraph, the ISW stated, «Ukraine's relentless drone strikes have compelled Moscow's military command to prioritize limited air defense assets to cover what it deems high-value targets.» The satellite images also show Pantsir-S1 air defense units, surface-to-air missiles, and a long-range radar station, operational since the spring when Ukraine intensified attacks on Russian infrastructure.
Challenges in Static Coverage
Analysts caution that static coverage of a single target might prove ineffective, as it allows Ukrainian drones to strike from unprotected directions. The vast property, strategically located between St. Petersburg and Moscow in Russia's Novgorod region, includes several gold-coated palatial mansions and is considered Putin's most private residence.
Drone Overflight Incident
The myth of the palace's invulnerability was shattered in January when Ukrainian security sources claimed their forces flew a drone over the palace en route to attack an oil terminal near St. Petersburg. This marked the first drone targeting of Putin's home region, Leningrad, since the full-scale invasion of
