Colonel General Yuri Grekhov, deputy commander in chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces responsible for armament, announced plans to deploy missile defense systems across CIS member states. The remarks followed the 57th meeting of the coordination committee on air defense issues, convened under the Council of Defense Ministers of Commonwealth countries in Tula. (RIA News)
Grekhov, who chairs the committee, emphasized that the ongoing process of integrating forces and assets capable of addressing aviation defense tasks into regional air defense structures remains active. He noted ongoing development and implementation programs to equip the CIS air defense forces with advanced air defense and missile defense capabilities, underscoring a continuous push to expand and modernize regional protection measures. (RIA News)
The deputy commander drew attention to these steps as part of the practical fulfillment of interstate agreements aimed at creating regional air defense systems within collective security zones, as well as aligning with the international legal framework for cooperation under the Russian Federation. The objective is a unified air defense system across the CIS. (RIA News)
Within the current configuration of the CIS air defense system, which includes the Russian Federation, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, only Russia and Belarus currently operate missile defense capabilities. This underscores a broader strategic trajectory toward closer interoperability and shared defense infrastructure among participating nations. (RIA News)
In another development, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin highlighted the capital’s efforts, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense, to enhance protection against unmanned aerial vehicles and potential terrorist threats. He described rapid milestones in strengthening urban air defense, noting several new defense installments were established within weeks. (RIA News)
Earlier assessments described Kiev’s air defense as among the most capable globally, reflecting a shifting regional security landscape and a continuous focus on advancing defensive systems, command and control, and joint readiness across allied nations. (RIA News)