Zelenskyy Says Russia Has Built Three-Layer Air Defense Around Moscow

09.08.2026, 14:52 uatv.ua

Russia has deployed three layers of air defense around Moscow after redeploying air defense systems from across its territory to protect the capital, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, UATV English reports.

According to Zelenskyy, Russia has concentrated a large number of air defense systems around Moscow and, to a lesser extent, St. Petersburg, creating what he described as a powerful defensive field.

“To create such a strong defensive field, they had to pull all their air defense systems from across a huge territory. They did this for Moscow and, to a lesser extent, for St. Petersburg,” Zelenskyy said.

However, the president stressed that even extensive air defense networks have limitations and can eventually be overwhelmed.

“No matter how much air defense you have, it is eventually depleted. We will continue to find technologies to respond to them so that they feel it,” he said.

Zelenskyy also referred to recent Ukrainian operations targeting Russian logistics. He said that after Russia began striking Ukrainian logistics infrastructure, Ukraine developed an alternative logistics operation and responded with a major strike that inflicted losses estimated at around 1 trillion rubles.

“It was a very successful operation by Ukrainian forces. The Armed Forces, Special Operations Forces, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, the Security Service and the Foreign Intelligence Service all took part,” Zelenskyy said.

He added that Ukrainian security and defense agencies are now conducting coordinated long-range and medium-range strike operations against Russian military and logistical targets.

The president also warned that Russia could resort to a broad range of measures as Moscow struggles to achieve what it can present as a victory in the war against Ukraine.

“We must understand what is happening with the Russians in order to understand that they will resort to anything. There will be hundreds and thousands of cyberattacks, missile pressure, intimidation and other measures. They do not change,” Zelenskyy said.

According to the president, Russian President Vladimir Putin is considering ways to strengthen his position domestically, including possible mobilization, while attempting to avoid formally announcing a new mobilization campaign.

“He is thinking about mobilization. He is thinking about how to deceive his own people — to carry out mass mobilization without announcing it, introduce some kind of shadow contracts, block borders and so on. We can already see many of these steps,” Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy argued that Putin needs to present Russians with a victory, but has been unable to achieve one in Ukraine.

“Putin cannot find a victory in this war so far. He needs to sell a victory. There will be no victory for him in Ukraine,” the president said.

According to Zelenskyy, the Kremlin’s key objective remains the capture of Donbas, but Ukraine has no intention of voluntarily withdrawing from the region.

“He needs to capture Donbas. We are not going to withdraw on our own. What can he sell as a victory?” Zelenskyy said.

The president also warned against accepting any Russian interpretation of the terms discussed with the United States, saying that Ukraine would not abandon its territory or population without firm security guarantees.

“No one will leave their country and their people and simply walk away, because no one can guarantee that this person will not go further,” Zelenskyy said.

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