Moscow Over Crimea: Russia Shifts Defenses to Protect the Regime First

The Ukrainian Navy has acknowledged the possibility that Russian forces may be withdrawing air defense systems from occupied Crimea, though official confirmation remains unavailable. According to Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk, the situation has stirred noticeable unease within Russian information channels, indicating that Crimea might indeed be better defended than mainland Russia. This comes as Russia faces growing difficulties in maintaining control over the region, with increasing Ukrainian strikes targeting military infrastructure.

Pletenchuk pointed out that even with a high concentration of air defense systems in Crimea, the occupied peninsula remains a top target for Ukrainian operations. The apparent reassignment of these systems could indicate that Moscow is struggling to protect its own territory. Unlike in Crimea, explosions do not occur nightly in major Russian cities, causing widespread frustration among the Russian population. The Kremlin’s priorities seem clear: safeguarding the regime’s image at home rather than securing its illegal holdings abroad.

Over the past year, Ukrainian naval forces have inflicted severe losses on the Russian Black Sea Fleet. In 2024 alone, nearly 500 Russian watercraft were neutralized, diminishing Moscow’s ability to maintain naval dominance in the region. Furthermore, Russia has reduced its use of helicopters for Black Sea patrols after several were destroyed by Ukraine’s Magura V5 maritime drones. This shift indicates a strategic crisis for Russia, forced to reconsider how it deploys and protects its assets.

If Russia is indeed withdrawing air defense systems, it raises questions about whether the Kremlin is more concerned about protecting Moscow than defending its illegal gains. The move could signal desperation, as Ukraine continues to expose Russian vulnerabilities in occupied and illegally annexed territories.