Russian President Vladimir Putin has relocated the annual Valdai discussion club conference from Sochi to Moscow following security demands from the presidential security service regarding protection against long-range uncrewed aerial systems.
According to four sources familiar with the matter, approximately 120 invited guests learned about the venue change last month, with President Vladimir Putin’s security service insisting on the relocation due to potential airborne threats, according to the Financial Times.
The conference schedule features speeches by high-ranking Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, energy sector coordinator Alexander Novak, and economic advisor Maxim Oreshkin, alongside a traditional concluding question-and-answer session with Vladimir Putin. Neither presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov nor the organizers of the Valdai club responded to requests for comment regarding the logistical changes.
This relocation underscores the Kremlin’s growing concern over the operational range of long-range uncrewed systems. Ukrainian developers utilize indigenous technologies to strike energy and logistics infrastructure targets at distances exceeding 3,000 kilometers, reaching even Novy Urengoy near the Arctic Circle. As a result, the number of Putin’s visits to Sochi has dropped sharply—recording only two visits over the past two years compared to 24 trips in 2021, as the Russian president predominantly remains in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and the Valdai residence.
