Journalists from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty have discovered four new towers for anti-aircraft systems near Vladimir Putin’s residence in Valdai, in the Novgorod Region. One of the structures is situated approximately 400 metres from the house used by the Russian president. Following their installation, the number of defensive positions around the complex has exceeded 30.
Briefly about the main points
- Four new defence towers have been spotted in satellite images.
- The nearest building is situated approximately 400 metres from the presidential residence.
- The air defence positions around the complex form two rings.
- In March, work began simultaneously on the construction of seven towers for the «Pantsir» systems.
- Residents of the surrounding villages speak of the soldiers and the sounds of the equipment in operation.
How the new structures were documented
The new installations were identified following an analysis of satellite imagery of the area surrounding the complex. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has also published an interactive map showing the defensive positions based on satellite observations.
Work on upgrading the residence’s security system has been ongoing for the past few years. The complex also contains buildings which journalists have linked to Alina Kabaeva and her children; previous investigations have reported that she frequently stays in Valdai.
Previous expansion of the security system
In April, the investigative project «System» run by the Russian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported on the construction of seven additional towers housing «Pantsir» anti-aircraft missile and gun systems. A comparison of Planet Labs satellite images showed that work on all the sites began simultaneously on 17 March.
At that time, journalists had counted 27 defensive positions, and some of the new structures had already been fitted with weapon systems. AIR DEFENCE The residence is surrounded by two rings of different radii — the Russian military uses a similar layout to defend Moscow.
In June, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported that the concentration of air defence systems near Valdai, calculated per unit area, exceeded that of Moscow and Moscow Oblast.
What residents of the surrounding villages have to say
Residents of villages near Valdai report the presence of military personnel and ongoing construction work. According to them, the sounds of air defence systems in operation have become a familiar feature of life in the surrounding villages.
In a documentary by the OstWest television channel, a teacher from the village of Roshchino said that local residents had learnt to recognise the operation of military installations by their characteristic sounds. She also described how the sound of the equipment changes whilst it is in operation and whilst monitoring the airspace.
Valdai as the Russian President’s working complex
The residence is situated near Lake Uzhyn in the Novgorod Region and is one of the country estates used by Putin. In November 2025, «Sistema» reported that several almost identical offices had been set up for the Russian president in various residences.
According to the investigators’ findings, some of the meetings that the Kremlin claimed had taken place in Novo-Ogaryovo were in fact held at Valdai. After the start of the full-scale war against Ukraine, Putin increasingly used this complex for his work.
Defensive towers are also being built near other sites
«Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty had previously reported on the installation of defence towers around the »Alabuga« special economic zone in Tatarstan, where »Geran«-type attack drones are manufactured.
The structures discovered near Valdai mark the next documented stage in the expansion of the defence infrastructure surrounding the Russian president’s residence.
