As new air defences appear in Moscow, Russians see more signs of war at home

More visible signs of war are emerging in Russia, with air defences being placed on Moscow rooftops and Kremlin officials sharply decrying the widening array of weapons the West is providing to Ukraine. 

Reports emerged on social media last week that anti-aircraft missiles had been spotted on key buildings in central Moscow, including at a defence ministry command centre. Military drills also took place outside the capital, with Russia's defence ministry saying troops "conducted an exercise to repel a mock air attack."

There is nothing abnormal about countries having air defences around key military installations or major cities. But new military drills testing S-300 mobile surface-to-air batteries around the capital, coupled with social media reports that Pantsir S-1 anti-aircraft missiles had been mounted on buildings in central Moscow, suggest Russia may be reinforcing its air defences. 

These developments have occurred alongside growing tensions about tanks and other heavy weapons that Ukraine has been promised by Western allies, leaving Russia weighing their implications for the conflict.

With arms shipments intensifying, some Russia watchers say there could be real concerns within parts of Russia's defence establishment about the potential for the war to heat up closer to home.

Oleg Ignatov, a senior Russia analyst for the International Crisis Group, a non-governmental organization, believes a decision to erect these defences stems from concerns that Moscow should be prepared for the unexpected.

"It seems that [the] Ukrainians have capabilities that allow them to strike deep inside Russia," Ignatov told CBC News from Brussels, pointing to high-profile attacks in Russian-held Crimea and on targets inside Russia.

Ignatov believes Russia is unclear how far Kyiv's reach may extend, as billions of dollars worth of advanced Western military aid pours into the country. 

Dani Nedal, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Toronto, said the West has grown willing to arm Ukraine with more sophisticated weapons, despite initial hesitations. 

"The restraint has been eroded over time," said Nedal, noting the West's shift from an earlier position of providing Ukraine with primarily defensive weapons.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that Moscow views recently announced tank shipments and other aid as part of the West's "growing" and "direct involvement in the conflict."

While people living in Moscow may be watching what's happening with new air defences, Ignatov does not think domestic considerations are driving the deployment.

"They didn't put [them] everywhere," he said. "It's not massive, it's very focused."

Nedal said these deployments can't be done in secret. And he believes the Russian government has downplayed its significance.