Putin's secret defence: Partisan group reveals Sochi air system
Partisans from the Atesh resistance movement have discovered an air defence system that protects Putin's residence in Sochi. A video published online allows for an accurate estimation of the exact location of the Pantsir-S1 complex protecting Putin's estate. This is valuable information for Ukrainians should they decide to launch an attack.
The Atesh partisan movement has long been active in the territory of the Russian Federation, reporting valuable details for Ukrainians regarding the actions taken by the Russians. Recently, the partisans have reported, among other things, that the defence industry in the aggressor country is facing increasing problems due to severe sanctions imposed by the West.
In recent weeks, the Atesh group has also repeatedly reported on disturbing movements of Russian troops, including searching for new places to store ammunition and equipment after increasingly bold Ukrainian attacks in March this year. The partisans also reported on the mass relocation of Su-30 fighters belonging to the Russian Federation in recent months.
Discovered a system that protects Putin's palace
This time, partisans from the Atesh resistance movement reported another discovery. As we read on platform X, the agents found the Pantsir-S1 air defence system near Putin's summer residence in Sochi by the Black Sea.
Considering that the Pantsir-S1 system is one of the more popular complexes Russians choose to protect the country's most important buildings, including critical infrastructure and government buildings, it is not surprising that Pantsir was found near Putin's residence in Sochi.
The Pantsir's history dates back to the 1980s when the Soviet Army searched for a new short-range air defence system. Although the 9K330 Tor system was used for this purpose with great effectiveness until then, it had limitations due to its tracked traction and was also expensive to operate.
The prototypes of the Pantsir-S1 system were created in 1994. The manufacturer used the chassis of Kamaz-6560, BAZ-6309, or MAN SX45 trucks to build this weapon. The crew of the Pantsir consists of three people, but due to the presence of radars and a fire control system, the complex can operate fully autonomously without the crew.
In principle, the Russian air defence system's utility is significant. The Pantsir-S1 protects against fire from aeroplanes and helicopters, but it is also capable of intercepting precision weapons moving at a speed of up to 1000 metres per second, or about 3600 kilometres per hour. One Pantsir-S1 system can control a maximum of 12 objects, and its radar covers an area up to 20 kilometres away. The maximum interception altitude of threats by the Pantsir-S1 is 15 kilometres.
The threat fire in the mentioned weapon is handled by two 30mm calibre 2A38 automatic anti-aircraft guns with a rate of fire reaching 2500 rounds per minute. Additionally, the Pantsir-S1 has at its disposal 12 anti-aircraft missiles, 67E6 or 57E6E, in two sections of six pieces each. They can fire at two objects simultaneously.
