Images on social media appear to show Pantsir-S1 mobile anti-aircraft systems installed in locations around Moscow.
The Kremlin has declined to say whether Russia is preparing to defend itself against possible attacks after images of anti-missile defense systems on several rooftops in Moscow circulated on social media.
Images on social media appeared to show a Pantsir-S1 mobile anti-aircraft system on the roof of a building in central Moscow, about 2 km (1.2 miles) east of the Kremlin, and a Pantsir on the roof of the Defense Ministry building stretching along it of the Kremlin, Moskva is located opposite Gorky Park.
What appeared to be the anti-aircraft weapon was visible on the ministry’s main building in the capital on Friday, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
Asked whether Russia is concerned that Moscow could be a target, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday referred questions to the Defense Ministry.
“You are responsible for ensuring the security of the country in general and the capital in particular, so it is better to ask the Defense Ministry about all the measures taken,” Peskov told reporters.
The ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment from AFP.
The Pantsir-S1 is an air defense system designed to protect against a wide range of weapons, including aircraft, ballistic and cruise missiles.
Independent Russian-language media reported that another Pantsir system was installed about 10 km (6 miles) from President Vladimir Putin’s residence in Novo-Ogaryovo outside Moscow.
Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to Ukraine’s Interior Minister, has posted a video on social media that appears to show anti-aircraft defenses near Putin’s residence.
“What’s going on, one wonders?” Gerashchenko wrote.
Another air defense complex was sighted in the Moscow region, 10 km from Putin’s residence.
The video was reportedly taken on January 6 near the village of Sarechye, Odintsovo district. Allegedly it is Pantsir C1.
What’s going on, one wonders? pic.twitter.com/UNeuiJRMZ4
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) January 20, 2023
Reports earlier in the week said mobile S-400 surface-to-air missile units were seen near the sprawling Losiny Ostrov forest park on Moscow’s northern border and at an agricultural institute in the capital.
Security analyst Michael Horowitz offered some possible explanations on Twitter: Russia could be concerned about “Ukrainian attacks on Moscow”, the Russian leadership wants to play up the threat of Ukrainian attacks, or “the Kremlin leadership is concerned about the threat of a coup”. – which he admitted was a “wild guess”.
A sure sign that things are going well #Russia:
A Pantsir air defense system was deployed on the roof of the Russian Ministry of Defense in Moscow
— Michael A. Horowitz (@michaelh992) January 19, 2023
Moscow has accused Ukrainian forces of being behind drone strikes on military infrastructure deep within Russian territory.
While the United States and other NATO members have provided billions of dollars worth of military aid to Ukraine, US President Joe Biden said Washington would not send weapons that could be used for attacks inside Russia.
Kremlin spokesman Peskov nevertheless on Thursday raised the prospect of future deliveries of such weapons, saying it would “take the conflict to a whole new level.”