Vladimir Putin has reportedly altered his travel plans to avoid Moscow as Ukrainian drone attacks on the Russian capital continue. According to the independent Telegram channel Mozhem Obyasnit, Putin is believed to have moved eastward, away from the drone strikes. The channel stated, "Putin has fled beyond the Urals," noting that his public schedule has increasingly included locations in Siberia and the Russian Far East, despite the Kremlin's claims of meetings in Moscow.
Putin is said to be concerned about potential threats and has taken measures to conceal his location during recent trips, including using a decoy plane during a visit to Novosibirsk. Residents along his motorcade route were reportedly instructed to stay indoors.
This report follows a significant drone assault by Ukrainian forces on Moscow, which occurred overnight on August 16, resulting in the death of an 83-year-old man and injuries to others, as confirmed by Moscow's provincial governor Andrei Vorobyov. The drones targeted a warehouse belonging to Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, which Ukraine has accused of supporting Russia's military efforts.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that it has intercepted 822 Ukrainian drones. Additionally, Andrei Klepach, chief economist at Vnesheconombank and a former Putin appointee, expressed concerns about Russia's performance in the ongoing conflict, stating, "We’re falling behind" in both technological and economic competition globally, including against Ukraine. Klepach was reportedly dismissed shortly after his comments became public. Despite criticisms, Putin has continued to promote the war effort, visiting various cities in Siberia to bolster support for what he initially described as a brief "special military operation."