S-500 Deployed Earlier Than Expected - Posture Now Consistent With Nuclear First Strike | 13 June 2024 | Overnight, Russia deployed the second generation of its S-500 air defense systems...around Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Russia's strategic nuclear missile silos. This second generation system - the undisputed pinnacle of air defense systems in the world - was not expected to be ready for deployment for at least another six months. The fact that Russia deployed them last night, and did so in very significant numbers for which mass-production wasn't even known to be ready, never mind active, around Moscow, St. Petersburg AND their strategic nuclear missile silos, has now changed the balance of power completely. There's no gentle way to say this, so I'm just going to say it: This posture is one that would be expected if Russia was planning a nuclear first-strike upon the West, and was readying to defend itself from the counter-strike.