Russia builds 16 new air defense towers around Putin’s Valdai residence — NV infographic

Journalists from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and an open-source intelligence (OSINT) analyst who posts on X under the username jembobineuse examined satellite imagery and found that 16 towers had been erected south of Putin’s residence in October. The towers are intended to accommodate Pantsir or Tor surface-to-air missile systems.

The new air defense ring passes through Putin’s “backup airfield” in the village of Khotilovo in Tver Oblast and a secret biological laboratory on Lysiachyi Island.

The number of air defense installations in the Valdai district, including the town of Valdai, has now reached 50, despite the area having fewer than 100,000 residents. By comparison, Moscow and the surrounding Moscow Oblast, with a combined population of 20 million, have approximately 100 air defense installations.

In its infographic, NV examines what is known about the expansion of air defenses around Putin’s residence.

Putin’s Dolgiye Borody (Valdai) residence is located in Russia’s Novgorod Oblast, approximately 20 kilometers from the town of Valdai, between lakes Valdai and Uzhin.

Sites along the new air defense ring:

• Khotilovo military airfield: A specially constructed rail spur connects the airfield to Putin’s residence.
• Vyshnevolotsk Reservoir: A laboratory complex has been built on Lisiy Island, possibly linked to Russia’s biological weapons program.

Sources: OSINT analyst jembob, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Militarnyi.