Russia builds 24 new Pantsir air-defense towers around Moscow in two months

Russia has built about 24 new towers for Pantsir air-defense systems around Moscow in the last two months, creating an additional defensive ring roughly 40 kilometers from the city and separate positions near strategic facilities, OSINT researcher Jembob said after analyzing fresh satellite imagery.

Coordinates, images and source links are compiled on an interactive map by Radio Liberty journalist Mark Krutov, which the researcher cited.

According to Jembob's tally, there are now about 79 Pantsir towers within 50 kilometers of Moscow, with another eight or nine farther out. Including ground-level ramps and rooftop systems on Moscow buildings, the researcher counted roughly 125 known short-range air-defense positions in Moscow and the Moscow region.

This estimate does not mean a separate system is permanently stationed at every position: Pantsir units can be moved between pre-prepared sites.

Jembob said all 44 towers forming the 50-kilometer ring are confirmed by high-resolution satellite images. At least three new towers were built directly next to former ground ramps. The researcher suggested the old positions may be decommissioned and replaced by elevated platforms.

In addition to the near-circular defensive line, individual positions have been set up near strategic targets — the Moscow oil refinery, Vnukovo Airport and Vladimir Putin's residence.

Outside the 50-kilometer zone, several new towers are less than 4 kilometers from major electrical substations. The researcher believes they were built specifically to protect energy infrastructure.

At the same time, two new sites for S-400 systems have appeared around Moscow. In June, Jembob and Radio Liberty journalist Mark Krutov suggested one was being built on a cleared area in the Moskvoretsky park in Kuntsevo. The site's final purpose has not yet been confirmed.

The new towers are being built in large numbers mainly north of the combat zone. In southern Russia, Jembob observed, Pantsir positions more often use earthen embankments, and only near the most important facilities.