A good topic for the MSM is exactly why Putin thinks he needs these missiles. Who in the region is he defending against? China?
Maybe another question would be how many of these potential adversaries would be using Russian aircraft to attack Moscow?
"A good topic for the MSM is exactly why Putin thinks he needs these missiles."
In the Cold War, the Soviets telegraphed the falsity of their 'no first strike' pledge by doing this. Their ABMs went to protect Moscow. In the US, our ABMs went to protect our ICBM silos. Russian didn't need to protect their silos, because they'd be emptied in the first strike.
Looks like they are still fighting the Cold War. No one but the US would attack them in the way they are defending.