Anti-drone netting systems, widely used on the battlefield in Ukraine, have been installed near Russian President Vladimir Putin’s residence in the Valdai district of the Novgorod region.
On Tuesday, images of netted structures covering truck parking areas were published on Telegram by journalist Oleg Kashin, who said he received them from readers, according to Meduza.
The outlet Agentstvo analyzed the images and concluded that they were taken along a highway in the Valdai district, approximately 9 kilometers (about 5.6 miles) from Putin’s residence.
The Valdai residence is reportedly a key private retreat associated with Putin and his inner circle. The site is also said to include a replica of his Kremlin office.
Anti-drone nets are widely used in frontline areas to protect equipment and vehicles from attacks by small drones or munitions dropped from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Ruslan Leviev, founder of the Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT), suggested the structures may serve not only as physical protection for vehicles but also as a means of controlling their movement.
Security Measures Expand around Valdai
In early April, per a Radio Liberty report, Russia had constructed seven new towers equipped with Pantsir air defense systems around Putin’s Valdai residence by March 2026.
Satellite images from Planet.com show that construction on the towers began simultaneously on March 17. Some of the structures have already been fitted with surface-to-air missile systems.
The defences now form two concentric rings around the residence, bringing the total number of air defence systems in the immediate area to 27, the report said.
Broader Pattern of Fortification
The build-up of defences around Valdai reflects a broader pattern across key strategic sites in Russia.
More than 20 towers equipped with large-caliber machine guns and several Pantsir systems were identified at the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Tatarstan, where Russia produces “Geran” drones, modified versions of Iranian-designed Shahed UAVs.
In May, the popular Russian navigation service Yandex Maps reportedly “hid” Putin’s residence in Valdai – a step typically reserved for sensitive military or industrial sites.
The area has also been blurred on satellite imagery.
Concerns over Surveillance
The Financial Times (FT) reported that Russian authorities restricted parts of a special surveillance network used to protect senior officials, including the president, amid fears of exploitation by advanced AI-enabled tools.
Source: Kyiv Post