War Approaches Moscow

Explosions have been shaking the outskirts of the Russian capital for several days now.

The consequences of Russia's military aggression against Ukraine are seen not only in the war zone but also deep in Russia's rear. The massive drone raid on several regions in Russia was the largest such event since the beginning of the war. Over the past week, unidentified drones have been spotted in several Russian regions at once, namely in Belgorod, Tuapse, Adygea, the Bryansk region and the Moscow environs.

Russian media was most scared by drones flying to the Moscow region. Charter97.org checked what is known about drones that are getting ever closer to the Russian capital.

Explosions in Kolomna and drones in the Moscow region

On the morning of February 28, a UJ-22 Airborne drone crashed near Gazprom's Voskresensk gas compressor station in the village of Gubastovo, Moscow Region. Media reports say that the UAV was not shot down. It got caught in the trees and lost altitude. It is not known whether the station was the target of the attack. There is a military town Lukhovitsy-3 near the village; it is a radio station of the Russian Armed Forces leadership.

Military expert David Sharpe called the UJ-22 Airborne "an improved version of Shahed," the Iranian kamikaze drone Shahed-136, which Russia uses as Geran-2 to attack Ukrainian cities.

On the evening of March 2, there was a powerful explosion near Kolomna, near Moscow. Almost all districts of the city could hear it. The Machine Engineering Design Bureau, which developed the Iskander-M operational-tactical missile systems and the Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, is located in this city.

The video showing the ignition was later released. Apparently, there was a fire after the explosion, as one could also see the smoke.

Will the air defense system save Moscow from strikes?

Russia seriously fears strikes on Moscow, so it began to create a new echelon of air defense back in January. Pantsir S-1 anti-aircraft gun-missile systems were placed on the roofs of buildings in the center of the Russian capital and near Putin's residence in Novo-Ogarevo; S-400 air defense systems were installed on the outskirts of Moscow.

The Pantsir S-1 air defense system deployed in the center of Moscow is designed, among other things, to protect against drones. However, the S-400s are designed to intercept large targets. They will not be covered against strikes by small objects like the UAVs that have fallen in the Moscow region.

It is also worth mentioning that Russian air defense systems failed to prevent the strikes on the Engels airbase, where they hit the airfield of the Russian strategic aviation. Experts explain it with major concentration of Russian air defense systems in the combat area, so the Russian airspace is not protected against small objects.

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