A increasingly paranoid Vladimir Putin has imposed a massive secutiry clampdown on Moscow ahead this week’s huge annual Victory Day parade.
The move comes amid an overnight strike on the city’s “Hollywood” district when an elite high-rise tower in Mosfilmovskaya Street was hit and damaged by a Ukrainian drone. The attack on the high-rise building – rumoured to be home to key figures in Russia’s SVR foreign intelligence service – was by an unmanned plane which evaded sophisticated air defences installations in the city.
The strike occurred at the beginning of a week leading up to Putin’s annual Victory Day military parade on Red Square, scheduled for Saturday and featuring thousands of Russian troops to mark the end of the Second World War.
There is growing concern in Moscow that Ukraine might target the parade rehearsals—or even the main event itself—where Putin is expected to deliver what has been described as a “very important” address.
According to VChK-OGPU, a Telegram channel reported to have links to the security services, as well as the associated Rucriminal outlet, snipers and machine‑gunners have been positioned on the Kremlin’s towers and ramparts overlooking Red Square.
Armoured vehicles and trucks equipped with anti‑drone systems have also been deployed around the Kremlin.
“Literally on all the towers, walls, and buildings of the Kremlin, there are soldiers from special units with machine guns, sniper rifles, and special equipment,” said the channel.
Armed checkpoints have been set up at entry points to the Russian capital. The Ukrainian drone struck the 36th floor of the Mosfilmovskaya tower, with footage showing extensive damage from the 1 am impact.
The site lies less than four miles from the Kremlin. Unconfirmed reports suggest the complex is home to senior officials from the SVR.
The tower is also near an exclusive residential area where figures such as Security Council secretary and former Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, as well as Gen. Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the Russian General Staff, are reported to maintain heavily protected residences.
Moscow has largely avoided Ukrainian attacks over the past year, but there is growing concern that the city could become a target in the coming days. Putin has raised the possibility of a short ceasefire to cover the parade, while Ukraine has pushed for a longer truce tied to broader peace negotiations. At present, no ceasefire has been agreed.
