MOSCOW — Russia has deployed Mi-26 heavy-lift helicopters, the world’s largest production helicopters, to move short-range air defence systems onto rooftops in Moscow as Ukraine continues long-range drone attacks on Russian territory.
Video circulating online shows a Russian Mi-26 carrying what defence outlets identified as a Pantsir-SMD-E air defence system on an external sling and lowering it onto the roof of a large building in Moscow. The exact date and location of the footage have not been independently confirmed, but analysts say it fits a broader pattern of rooftop air defence deployments around the Russian capital since Ukrainian drones first reached Moscow in 2023.
The Mi-26, known by NATO as the Halo, is designed for heavy transport and can carry payloads of about 20 tonnes. It is widely described as the largest helicopter to enter serial production, making it suitable for lifting bulky military equipment into locations where ground access is difficult.
Russia has increasingly relied on rooftop and urban air defence positions to protect Moscow from Ukrainian drones. Open-source reporting indicates that at least four Pantsir systems have been deployed on rooftops in the capital, adding another defensive layer around the Kremlin and other key sites.
The Pantsir family of systems is designed to intercept aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles and drones at short range. The SMD-E variant is reportedly a more missile-focused version intended to counter mass drone attacks, reflecting Moscow’s effort to adapt to Ukraine’s growing use of unmanned aircraft.
Ukraine has expanded its drone campaign deep inside Russia, targeting oil refineries, logistics hubs, military sites and infrastructure far from the front line. Reuters reported this week that Ukrainian drone units have sharply increased strikes on Russian rear areas, hitting targets up to 180 kilometres behind the battlefield and disrupting supply routes.
The deployment also underscores the changing nature of the war. Both sides are rapidly adapting to drone warfare, using cheaper unmanned systems to bypass traditional defences and force expensive responses. Russia has also modified its own Shahed-style drones with new guidance and electronic-warfare systems to evade Ukrainian interceptors.
For Moscow, airlifting defence systems onto rooftops is a visible sign that the capital remains vulnerable despite Russia’s layered network of S-300, S-400 and Pantsir batteries. For Ukraine, the need for Russia to reinforce urban air defences suggests its drone campaign is forcing costly defensive adjustments far from the front.
