A mysterious aircraft was observed over New Moscow, approaching a Tatneft gas station along the Kaluga Highway, according to a report by Shot Telegram. Journalists noted a police patrol in the Tinao area at night reporting a glowing object in the airspace. The device moved at low altitude toward the gas station, then turned back and headed toward the Mikhailovo-Yartsevo settlement.
Shortly after, Mash Telegram reported three drones seen above the Air Space Force military unit in New Moscow about a day earlier. The channel described how the UAVs conducted continuous monitoring along a track, with quadcopters lifting from a forest belt near the railway line. The drones hovered at about 200 meters, then descended, circled, and returned. Duty officers on the checkpoint noticed the activity and alerted command authorities, per the post.
The report adds that authorities surveyed the surrounding forest but found no drone operators in the area. The drones were described as sizable and equipped with white and red signal lights. Channel sources also confirmed a drone appearing near the same military unit, flying toward the Tatneft gas station near the Krasnopakhorskoye settlement, not far from the earlier observation.
These incidents are not isolated. On March 10, Shot Telegram reported police officers observed four unidentified aircraft over New Moscow. Around midnight, law enforcement reportedly spotted objects while patrolling TiNAO territory near the Planet of the Apes zoo, with observers noting low altitude spinning and leaving observers with a clear impression of what had been seen.
Air defense facility in the capital
On January 19, Telegram channels published images showing the Pantsir-S anti air defense system installed on the roof of the Russian Ministry of Defense building complex on Frunzenskaya Embankment in Moscow, with similar installations at other sites including the administrative building on Teterinsky Lane. The photos sparked discussions about security measures across key state facilities.
When asked about the Pantsir-S rooftop installations and other security enhancements, a Kremlin spokesperson referred inquiries to the Ministry of Defense, emphasizing that the ministry holds primary responsibility for national and capital security. The statement suggested that only the defense ministry could provide definitive details on these arrangements.
According to RBC, the Pantsir-S1 system can be mounted on a tracked or wheeled chassis, a trailer, or installed permanently. It is designed to defend small objects from both manned and unmanned aerial threats and can engage lightly armored ground targets as well as personnel as required.
On March 1, the chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee stated on Soloviev Live that Russian companies could buy and install anti-drone systems at their own facilities. He noted several cost-effective methods to counter drones and suggested that any responsible company could deploy such measures to improve reliability and ongoing operation. He argued these capabilities would be valuable not only during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine but also in broader anti-terrorism efforts. The deputy added that military air defense resources remain focused on protecting critical government infrastructure.
He listed important targets including tank farms, gas distribution stations, power facilities, substations, bridges, and factories, underscoring that many critical assets require ongoing protection. Earlier reports noted a February 28 incident in which an unknown UAV crashed near a gas compressor station fence in Kolomna, Moscow Region. Officials stated no injuries or casualties occurred, while local authorities investigated the object and its potential explosives payload.
These events reflect ongoing concerns about aerial security near major urban centers and critical infrastructure, prompting authorities to consider expanded counter-drone measures and enhanced surveillance across high-risk zones.