Russia is not protecting most of its territory with air defense systems, which is why strikes on oil refineries, power substations, and other facilities have been possible, according to Andrii Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation under Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council.
“In recent weeks, several Russian oil refineries have been hit — the Volgograd refinery (which suspended operations), as well as those in Kstovo, Saratov (also temporarily shut down), Tuapse, Mari El, and Ryazan. Power substations, the Kostroma GRES, and the thermal power plant in Orel were also struck,” Kovalenko wrote on Telegram.
He noted that Russia is experiencing a shortage of air defense systems — both S-300 and S-400 missile systems and numerous Pantsir anti-aircraft units, which previously protected such facilities, have been destroyed.
“The majority of Russia’s air defense is concentrated near the front line and Moscow, leaving significant gaps in the country’s airspace. In fact, most Russians are not protected by Putin, despite his constant promises of security. All those tests of ‘Yars’ missiles and jokes about ‘Poseidon’ or ‘Burevestnik’ look absurd against the backdrop of how exposed Russia really is,” Kovalenko emphasized
