Counter-drone defence in Moscow: internet and mobile networks shut down ahead of 9 May parade

While tactical drones have almost frozen the front line between Russia and Ukraine, a long-range battle of historic proportions is raging above it. Moscow wanted a three-day ceasefire around 9 May to hold the traditional Victory Day parade undisturbed – Kyiv refused. This was followed by crude threats and insults from Russia, while fear of Ukrainian drone attacks is growing in the capital, and with it the pressure on counter-drone defence.

According to Ukrainian statements, Kyiv would only agree to a ceasefire of at least 30 days. This is seen as a basic prerequisite for genuine peace negotiations and as proof that Moscow actually wants peace. Vladimir Putin, however, continues to adhere to the “goals of the special military operation”. This means the complete capture of those Ukrainian oblasts that Russia has unilaterally declared its own territory without international recognition.

Counter-drone defence: Moscow resorts to drastic measures

Since Monday it has been known that Moscow will have no internet at least until the parade on 9 May. Mobile networks are also being switched off or disrupted. All mobile networks had already gone down during the parade rehearsals.

In addition, according to media reports, Russia has concentrated hundreds of air defence systems in and around Moscow, reportedly 280 systems in total.

The capital's air defence is organised in several echelons:

• Echelon one is for detection: the Don-2N radar station and the mobile Nebo-M, Gamma-S1 and Kasta radars are deployed around Moscow for this purpose.
• Echelon two intercepts strategic threats.
• Echelon three handles long-range air defence, among others with the S-400, which engages targets at distances of up to 400 kilometres.
• Echelon four provides close-range defence with Pantsir-S1 and Tor-M2, some of which are positioned on Moscow rooftops or on mobile platforms.

80 years since the end of the war: guests and cancellations

Preparations for the parade have been in full swing for weeks. Notably, significantly more modern equipment is being shown again compared with the last three parades during the war.

Putin has invited many state guests to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Military contingents from other countries are also to march:

• Belarus is sending at least one military unit.
• Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Vietnam and possibly Myanmar are also sending soldiers.

The number of high-ranking politicians attending keeps changing – the question is also a target of Ukrainian counter-propaganda. Currently expected are:

• Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico,
• Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić,
• Chinese President Xi Jinping,
• Vietnam's General Secretary Tô Lâm,
• Indonesian Defence Minister Shafri Shamsuddin,
• Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro,
• Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva,
• Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel,
• Burkina Faso's head of state Ibrahim Traoré,
• South African Defence Minister Angelina Mochekga,
• Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev,
• Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev,
• Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov,
• Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev,
• Tajik President Emomali Rahmon,
• Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan,
• Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko,
• Abkhazia's President Badr Gunba,
• South Ossetia's President Alan Gagloev,
• Republika Srpska: President Milorad Dodik and
• Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

There is also speculation in Moscow as to whether US President Donald Trump might attend.

Because security guarantees are lacking, there have already been first cancellations, according to Ukrainian sources: Fico and Vučić have suddenly “fallen ill”. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, initially announced, is not coming; Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was to travel in his place, but according to India Today he too is staying away from Moscow.

“Carpet” plan: closed airspace over Russia

All delegations must expect restrictions on their journey. In recent days, Russian airports have repeatedly activated the so-called “Carpet” plan.

Behind the Russian code word “Carpet” lies the complete suspension of civil air traffic. This allows Russia's own defence systems to engage Ukrainian long-range drones.

Ukrainian drones now fly much further than the Moscow region. Internet and mobile networks are therefore being shut down so that neither side can use them for drone control and reconnaissance.

Via the networks, drones transmit live images, for example, which can be used to locate enemy air defence positions, or they receive new commands to fly around precisely these systems.

Every day, both Russia and Ukraine have to intercept hundreds of drones that fly slowly but are controlled in complex ways.

From the middle to the end of last week, the latest waves of attacks targeted Crimea and neighbouring regions. Russian sources reported a new large wave of Ukrainian drone attacks only last night.