Vladimir Putin and an Orthodox monk are pictured at the Smolensk Skete in the historic Valaam monastery in Karelia, Russia, 1 August 2025. EPA/GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL

Satellite images of the area around Vladimir Putin’s Valdai residence in the Novgorod region of northwestern Russia have shown at least 12 air defence systems — mainly Pantsir-S1 complexes — deployed on the site, Radio Svoboda, the Russian-language service of RFE/RL, reported on Tuesday.

A year ago, there were just two on the same site, Radio Svoboda said. The first air defence system on the site was discovered in January 2023, while a second system was revealed six months later.

According to Radio Svoboda, there are only five times as many air defence systems in the whole of Moscow and the Moscow region as at the Valdai site, even though they have a combined population of 20 million.

Previously, the investigative journalists at Proekt discovered that the Valdai site also now housed a separate residence for Alina Kabaeva, 42, a Russian politician and former gymnast widely believed to be Putin’s partner.

Furthermore, an investigation by the non-profit investigative outlet Dossier Centre revealed in September that Putin’s two sons from Kabaeva live in these residences. The residence has previously sought to employ tutors from South Africa, while Olesya Fedina, Kabaeva’s cousin, introduces herself as the boys’ mother to outsiders and personally meets any prospective employees.

Putin, 72, is famously guarded about his private life. He divorced his wife Lyudmila in 2014. Their two daughters have also largely managed to avoid the public spotlight.