Anti-aircraft systems have been spotted on the roofs of administrative and defense buildings in the heart of the Russian capital. These installations raise questions about Moscow’s intentions.
Is Russia preparing for an escalation of the conflict? Anti-aircraft systems were installed on the roofs of several defense and administrative buildings in Moscow at least on Thursday and in the days before, as photos on social networks show. Which suggests that Russia is expecting strikes in its capital.
An anti-aircraft missile aimed at the Ministry of Defense
Diplomat and former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt shared a photo on his Twitter account this Friday morning showing a Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft missile on the roof of the Russian Defense Ministry in the heart of the capital. A snap posted by a pro-Russian Telegram account on Thursday.
“Moscow is safe,” he said.
The same applies to the Ministry of Education, where Muscovites were surprised that rocket launchers were installed with the help of cranes. The scene was filmed by local residents.
For his part, adviser to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Anton Gerashchenko, published a video in which we see a Pantsir-C1 air defense system, which, according to him, was installed 10 km from Vladimir Putin’s residence near Moscow. The video is from January 6th.
“We can ask ourselves what’s going on,” he wonders.
These installations were denounced in particular Twitter by Mikhailo Podoliak, an adviser to Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“Doesn’t Lavrov want to discuss international humanitarian law again?” he asks in a devastating tone.
Worry or Moscow bluff?
Why are such defense systems, designed to repel any air attack, deployed hundreds of kilometers from the front lines? Hypothesis 1: Russians are concerned that Westerners agree to send long-range missiles to Ukraine that can reach Moscow. So they would equip themselves preventively to protect themselves against possible strikes.
Another possibility, the not very discreet installation of these rocket launchers, may indicate that Moscow is indeed making a show of force and wants to send a message: that the Russian army is ready to fight against the Ukrainians at any cost, even if it means to jeopardize its capital.
Kiev’s allies reunited in Germany
Some facilities were set up on Thursday as Ukraine’s allies meet this Friday in Ramstein, Germany to coordinate military aid sent to Kyiv.
When Vladimir Putin gave an upbeat speech about the evolving conflict and created “positive momentum” for his troops this week, former president of Russia and now vice-president of Putin’s powerful Security Council Dmitry Medvedev did not hesitate to threaten Westerners.
“The defeat of a nuclear power in a conventional war can trigger a nuclear war,” he warned in a message published on Telegram on Thursday.