Vladimir Putin imposes new defence systems amid fears Ukraine could BLOW UP his home

Satellite images captured the bolstered defence outside the Valdai palace, which is now more secure than many Russian cities, according to the US-based think tank the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

The ISW suggests that the deployment is part of a wider strategy to protect high-value assets from drone strikes from Kyiv, which have increasingly infiltrated deep into Russian territory.

The relentless strikes have forced Putin “to prioritise limited air defence assets to cover what it deems high-value targets”, the ISW said.

Pantsir systems are short-to-medium range mobile air defence systems, which are designed to protect against a variety of aerial threats, including aircraft, helicopters, drones, and precision-guided munitions.

Known by their Nato moniker, the SA-22 Greyhound, the defence systems have been reportedly in operation since the spring.

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Among the seven deployed defences, the most visible is located on Ryabinovy Island, two miles from Putin's residence.

Putin’s estate was first equipped with an air defence system in January 2023 and since then, a fortified barrier has been built up around the sprawling estate.

Security forces monitoring the retreat, which is located in the middle of St Petersburg and Moscow, detected a Ukrainian drone flying right over the palace whilst en route to a nearby oil terminal.

It was the first time that a drone had entered Putin’s home region of Leningrad since the war began in February 2022. The 190,000ft winter palace has been protected by a no-fly zone overhead since 2021

According to independent Russia reports, he shares the retreat, which is located in the middle of St Petersburg and Moscow, with his 41-year-old alleged “secret lover”, Alina Kabaeva.

It is Putin’s most private residence and he very rarely holds meetings there.

It is rumoured to have a complicated tunnel system built for the Russian president’s safety, as well as an ice rink and pole-dancing room.

Putin's estate is heavily guarded by federal security, and those who trespass face severe penalties, including fines of up to £5,300 and two years of labour.