Putin Avoids Journey to Western Russia Amid Rising Drone Menace

Russian President Vladimir Putin is more and more avoiding journey to the European areas of Russia, as an alternative favoring journeys to Siberia and the Far East the place the chance of Ukrainian drone strikes is considerably decrease, Russian outlet Agentstvo reported.

According to native media citing regional sources, Putin is anticipated to go to the Novosibirsk area subsequent week. This would mark his fifth regional journey since resuming home journey in June, with solely a type of locations positioned in Russia’s weak European territory.

While the precise dates of the Novosibirsk go to haven’t been introduced, the Kremlin chief is anticipated to satisfy with regional Governor Andrey Travnikov and tour the brand new campus of Novosibirsk State University.

Agentstvo famous that apart from closely guarded areas the place his residences are positioned – akin to Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Valdai – and a short journey to Kazan for a world summit, Putin is actively steering away from western Russia.

Deadly interception close to Black Sea property

The shift in Putin’s journey itinerary displays the fact that even the airspace close to the president’s most extremely secured non-public residences is now not protected from the attain of Ukrainian drones.

On Aug. 3, 4 folks – together with a baby – have been killed and 10 others have been wounded after a drone fell on a crowded seaside in Arkhipo-Osipovka, a resort village within the Krasnodar area.

The seaside is positioned simply 22 kilometers from the luxurious Black Sea property extensively often known as “Putin’s Palace.”

Russian authorities blamed Ukraine for the assault. Witness accounts and video footage indicated that the drone abruptly modified route and crashed after being engaged by a Russian cell hearth group positioned immediately on the seaside.

Independent monitoring channels reported that the drone’s supposed goal was doubtless a close-by non-public recreation facility related to NPO Mashinostroyeniya, a serious sanctioned Russian protection enterprise that develops cruise missiles and army spacecraft. The drone reportedly crashed simply 300 meters wanting the ability, the place missile designers have been allegedly staying.

The proximity of the strike to Putin’s sprawling, 100-billion-ruble ($1.35 billion) palace compound highlights the rising attain of Ukraine’s deep-strike marketing campaign.

The property, which is surrounded by a 7,000-hectare buffer zone managed by the Federal Security Service (FSB) and guarded by a strict no-fly zone, was the topic of a 2021 anti-corruption investigation by the late opposition chief Alexei Navalny.