The air defense around Putin's residence has increased sevenfold: what does this mean.

According to ТСН: Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Russia into Ukraine, the number of air defense systems in the area of President Vladimir Putin's residence in Valdai, Novgorod region, has increased sevenfold. Ukrainian drones are not used in this region.

Increase in the number of air defense systems

Aviation expert Konstantin Krivolap reported that in 2022, there were about two air defense systems around Valdai, and now their number has reached 14.

"In general, regarding the possibility of a strike on Valdai, there were noticed around two air defense systems that protected Valdai in 2022. The Kremlin hoped for 'Kyiv in three days', 'Ukraine in two weeks', 'the Ukrainian leadership fleeing', so why place more missile systems around Putin's residence. To understand the difference, there are currently 14 such systems," Krivolap said.

Reasons for the absence of flights

Krivolap also noted that it is impractical for Ukraine to launch drones in this area. He explained:

"We don't particularly fly there because it's far, and in half a day, you can figure out where our drones are headed, and Putin might manage to hide, as he is very attentive to his safety," Krivolap said.

The expert emphasized that there is no point in focusing on Valdai, where the Russian dictator does not appear often. Instead, Ukraine should focus on many other tasks, particularly destroying objects of the Russian military-industrial complex.

Assessment from US intelligence

American intelligence agencies, including the CIA and NSA, have not confirmed Russia's claims about an assassination attempt on Putin or an attack on his residence in Valdai. According to reports from The Wall Street Journal, Ukrainian strikes were aimed solely at military targets, not at private residences of the Kremlin leader. The US considers Moscow's accusations to be part of an information campaign to escalate tensions.

Russia also claims that among the debris of drones that allegedly attacked Putin's residence in Valdai, a survivable navigation controller was found. GRU chief Igor Kostyukov stated that they transmitted the 'decoded' route data to a representative of the US embassy to prove that the UAV targets were indeed objects in the Novgorod region.

Thus, the security issues around Putin's residence remain relevant, as the increase in air defense systems indicates heightened vigilance from Russia. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian side is trying to optimize its efforts, focusing on more strategic goals in the fight against the aggressor.