- Putin is said to have regularly visited the Bocharov Ruchey palace on the Black Sea.
Vladimir Putin has totally demolished one of his main palaces amid claims he is now afraid to spend time in his favorite Black Sea hideaways that are within range of Ukraine’s kamikaze drones.
The Russian president, who turns 72 today, is “genuinely afraid” of being killed by an unmanned projectile piloted from kyiv, according to a new investigation by independent media outlet Proekt.
In recent years, Putin has frequently visited the Stalin-designed Bocharov Ruchey Palace overlooking the Black Sea in Sochi.
It also boasts a £1bn private clifftop retreat northwest of Gelendzhik, often compared to a James Bond villain’s lair thanks to its entertainment-packed upper floors hiding a network of tunnels and bunkers. underground.
These luxurious homes were seen as his “love nests”, with independent media speculating that the Russian president embarked on getaways with his secret partner, former Olympic gymnast Alina Kabaeva, 41, and their two young children.
But it emerged that the Bocharov Ruchey palace was suddenly demolished, and new satellite images obtained by Proekt show that the site has been reduced to an earthen pit.
Bocharov Ruchey Palace Reportedly Suddenly Demolished
Satellite images showed the empty land where the Bocharov Ruchey palace once stood
A general view of the newly renovated Bocharov Ruchey state residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 6, 2014 in Sochi, Russia
Putin reportedly spent time in his Black Sea palaces with his secret partner, former Olympic gymnast Alina Kabaeva, 41, and their two young children.
The Russian president, who turns 72 today, is “genuinely afraid” of being killed by an unmanned projectile piloted from kyiv, according to a new investigation by the independent media Proekt.
The report claims that Putin has avoided Sochi and the Krasnodar region since last year, when Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian territory began in earnest.
Ukrainian airstrikes have hit several targets in both the Sochi and Gelendzhik areas, prompting the Russian president to forego his regular trips to the regions despite evidence that his palaces are protected with sophisticated air defense systems. .
Bocharov Ruchey is said to have been crushed in February and March of this year.
Proekt’s report said: ‘The (Bocharov Ruchey) building was demolished to the ground. Many questions remain.
‘Firstly, why was it necessary to demolish a luxury residence if it had been renovated 10 years ago?
“The answer is probably obvious… Due to drone attacks, the president is afraid to find himself on the Black Sea coast in the Krasnodar region.”
Vladimir Putin received UK Prime Minister David Cameron at the Bocharov Ruchey residence in Sochi in May 2013.
The Ukrainian drones were shot down near Bocharov Ruchey late last year.
Alexander Lukashenko arrives to see Vladimir Putin in September 2022, reportedly at the Bocharov Ruchey residence in Sochi, Russia.
The report adds: ‘In 2023, Putin felt a threat to his physical safety and became scared. An acquaintance of Putin confirmed to Proekt that the president is actually afraid of flying south.’
In 2013, Putin used Bocharov Ruchey to invite then-UK Prime Minister David Cameron for talks.
One theory is that Putin has demolished the site and is using the war as an excuse to build a new, more luxurious palace on the site of a building completed by former Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev.
A new development could offer better bunker facilities for the Russian leader, whose paranoia about possible attempts on his life has increased significantly since the invasion of Ukraine.
Proekt stressed that the Russian people have not been informed about the demolition of Bocharov Ruchey, given that the residences linked to Putin are located in protected areas.