Russia to strengthen air defense and patrols to protect important facilities: ISW explained what's behind the decision

Russia has begun to strengthen its air defense over the Central Federal District. This was probably a response to Ukraine's recent intention to conduct a winter campaign to intercept enemy supply routes in the rear areas (temporarily occupied Crimea and the territory of the aggressor country).

Today, the Kremlin is primarily concerned with protecting its critical facilities from drone attacks. This is stated in a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

On November 16, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev announced the strengthening of Russian air defense. According to him, the authorities have even organized patrols to protect infrastructure to prevent attacks. Moreover, the Kremlin has begun to finance the creation of "territorial defense lines" for the regions bordering Ukraine.

Patrushev said that the Russian authorities are updating the list of all critical infrastructure facilities, including energy and transportation, that "need to be protected." But he did not specify what kind of threats he was talking about.

The ISW emphasized that the Central Federal District of the Russian Federation consists of 18 subjects, including Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod regions on the border with Ukraine.

On November 13, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said that the country needs additional air defense systems and long-range missiles to "strike Russia's rear."

Earlier, the official representative of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Lieutenant Colonel Volodymyr Fitio, noted that the current main task of the Armed Forces is to disrupt the ground lines of communication of Russian troops.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, Ukrainian Brigadier General Serhii Baranov, who is in charge of UAV operations, said that Ukraine is preparing a massive drone attack against Russia in the winter. The bases and military infrastructure of the occupiers in Crimea and inside Russia will be attacked.

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