Expert Tells How Air Defense Around Putin's Valdai Residence Has Changed

• 2.01.2026, 10:07

Compared to 2022.

In 2022, about two air defense systems were seen around Valdai, where one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's residences is located, and now their number has increased to 14, according to aviation expert and analyst Konstantin Krivolap.

"In general, regarding the possibility of a strike on Valdai, about two air defense systems were seen there in 2022 to protect Valdai. After all, the Kremlin was hoping for 'Kiev in three days,' 'Ukraine in two weeks,' 'the Ukrainian leadership will escape,' so why put more SAMs around Putin's residence?" he said on air "Espreso"."

"We do not fly there especially, because it is far away, and for half a day you can understand where our drones are flying, and Putin can have time to hide, because he is very attentive to his security," Krivolap explained.

In the expert's opinion, we do not need to think about Valdai, where Putin does not visit so often, because we have a bunch of other tasks - to destroy the facilities of the Russian military-industrial complex.

Russia's lies about the attack on Valdai

Russia has been claiming since December 29 that Ukraine allegedly tried to attack President Vladimir Putin's residence with attack drones, but all the vehicles were shot down.

Ukraine has denied launching such a strike since the beginning of these statements. That said, the main addressee of the Russian narrative of an assassination attempt on Putin was initially the United States: Putin told Donald Trump about it in a phone conversation on Dec. 29. However, leaks appeared in the U.S. media on Wednesday that U.S. intelligence agencies, primarily the CIA, had concluded that the Ukrainian drones had not targeted Putin's residence and had conveyed that conclusion to the president.