Moscow skyscrapers get rooftop air defence systems amid Ukraine drone threat

Russia has begun rapidly installing air defence systems on Moscow skyscraper rooftops to protect the capital against long-range Ukrainian drone strikes. Footage shows a Pantsir-SMD-E air defence complex being placed on a Moscow office building by transport helicopter.

Russia is rushing to fortify Moscow against Ukrainian drone attacks, deploying air defence systems on the rooftops of high-rise buildings across the capital. Recently published video footage shows a transport helicopter positioning a new Pantsir-SMD-E air defence complex onto the roof of a Moscow office building.

The move signals growing concern in the Kremlin about Ukraine's expanding long-range drone capabilities, which have repeatedly reached the outskirts and even the centre of Moscow in recent months. Placing systems such as the Pantsir-SMD-E on elevated urban structures allows for better radar coverage and interception angles over the city's dense skyline.

The Pantsir-SMD-E is a short-to-medium range surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft artillery system designed for point defence of critical infrastructure. Its deployment on civilian office buildings marks a notable escalation in Russia's efforts to shield its capital from aerial threats that were previously considered distant or manageable.

Ukraine has intensified drone strikes deep inside Russian territory as part of its broader strategy to bring the costs of the war home to Russia. Moscow and surrounding regions have seen multiple drone interception events, prompting Russian authorities to expand their layered air defence network beyond traditional military installations to include urban high-rises.