To shoot down drones: aerial work platforms manned by military personnel have begun appearing in Moscow
17 June 16:21
In the Russian capital, they have begun deploying aerial platforms manned by armed soldiers to combat Ukrainian drones. One of them was spotted near Moscow City. Photographic evidence was published by journalist Alexander Plyushchov. According to him, a similar tower has been deployed in Kapotnya, where Gazprom Neft’s Moscow oil refinery is located. "Komersant Ukrainian" reports this, citing Russian propaganda media.
The facility was attacked by drones on June 16, resulting in a fire. Sources told Reuters that the AVT-6 primary oil refining unit, with a capacity of 21,400 metric tons per day (53% of the refinery’s total capacity), was damaged. According to their reports, the plant—which produces gasoline, diesel, fuel oil, and tar—was shut down as a safety measure.
Ukrainian drones continue to strike targets in Moscow, despite the fact that the authorities are actively bolstering the city’s defenses. Thus, after the capital suffered one of the largest drone attacks since the start of the war on May 17, satellite images showed that at least seven new towers equipped with “Pantsir” anti-aircraft missile systems had appeared to the north and east of the city. In addition, similar anti-aircraft missile systems were installed on the roofs of a number of residential and office buildings.
Sources at the Financial Times claimed that Putin had begun to view drones as a potential means of assassination, prompting a tightening of his security measures. Fearing for his life, the dictator has drastically reduced the number of his trips and is increasingly spending time in underground bunkers, the publication’s sources said. According to them, Putin’s inner circle has been prohibited from using cell phones or any devices with internet access in his presence.
According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s estimates, more than 100 different anti-aircraft missile systems have been deployed around Moscow since 2023. In particular, the Ministry of Defense decided to recreate the Soviet “small ring” of air defense, which was intended to protect the city from NATO attacks during the Cold War. At least 43 towers equipped with “Pantsir-S1” systems were installed in 2025: new positions appeared near Zelenograd, Podilsk, in the Gzhel area, near Naro-Fominsk, and at Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports. Air defense missile systems are also being redeployed from other regions.
