Russian President Vladimir Putin’s private residence in Valdai is now protected by 12 air defense systems, even as other parts of the country struggle with critical shortages in aerial protection.
Satellite images analyzed by Radio Svoboda reveal that most of the systems deployed around the luxury compound are Pantsir missile units, mounted on specially constructed towers.
The fortified estate, located in the Novgorod region, has seen a sharp increase in its defensive measures—up from seven air defense systems counted by open-source intelligence (OSINT) researchers in previous assessments.
The measures appear designed to ensure the Kremlin leader sleeps soundly in his underground bunker, far from active combat zones.
Meanwhile, Russian border regions, including Belgorod, remain under-protected despite being frequent targets of Ukrainian drone strikes. Belgorod’s mayor has repeatedly warned that the area is “critically short” of air defense capabilities.
Strategic infrastructure such as oil refineries regularly struck in recent months often lack adequate defenses, with videos of attacks showing local police firing handguns at incoming drones.
Critics argue that the Kremlin’s focus on protecting Putin’s personal safety underscores a growing disconnect between Moscow’s leadership and the security needs of ordinary Russians.
“The concentration of these systems in Valdai highlights misplaced priorities in national defense,” said a military analyst in Kyiv.
Valdai is not only home to Putin’s heavily guarded residence but also to a private railway branch reportedly built for former gymnast Alina Kabaeva, widely believed to be the Russian leader’s longtime partner.
Investigative outlet Dossier reports that Kabaeva and her children with Putin reside there.
As Russia’s war in Ukraine drags on, the stark contrast between the lavishly protected presidential retreat and the exposed frontline regions is fueling public frustration and renewed questions about the Kremlin’s defense strategy.
