Ukrainian Drone Strikes Sparked Forest Fires Near Putin’s Black Sea Mansion

Ukrainian drone strikes have ignited massive forest fires near Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s opulent mansion along the Black Sea, known as “Putin’s Palace.”

According to local Russian authorities, the fires, caused by falling debris from a Ukrainian drone downed by Moscow defenses, came within six miles of Putin’s sprawling 190,000-square-foot compound at Cape Idokopas, near the resort town of Gelendzhik.

However, an independent Russian investigative outlet, IStories, placed the blaze even closer to the Russian strongman’s palatial villa, reporting that the fire broke out just two miles from the palace.

No injuries or deaths were reported, but 23 vacationers were cut off from evacuation routes by the smoke and had to be rescued by boat, according to local emergency services.

Putin’s Paranoia and the Black Sea Palace

It’s unclear whether the palace was the intended target of Kyiv’s strikes. Putin, who has become increasingly paranoid about assassination attempts, demolished his holiday villa in Sochi last year amid his war on Ukraine, fearing it could be vulnerable to airstrikes.

The existence of Putin’s palace on the Black Sea was first revealed in a 2021 documentary video by Russian dissident Alexei Navalny. Navalny alleged that the $1.5 billion hideaway was built with fraudulently obtained funds from oil oligarchs and billionaire allies.

The palace, which included a casino, theater, hockey rink, and vineyard, underwent renovations last year, replacing the strip club and casino with a chapel and military paintings to reflect Putin’s growing fixation with religion and war.

Navalny’s claims about the palace sparked widespread protests in Russia, with Putin denying ownership of the Black Sea estate.

The Infamous Black Sea Mansion

The mansion reportedly features impregnable fences, its own port, security, a no-fly zone, and a border checkpoint, essentially functioning as a separate state within Russia. Plans also revealed a dual-tunnel bunker where Putin and his allies could survive for weeks with access to essentials.

Despite Putin’s denial of ownership, the Black Sea palace remains a symbol of alleged corruption and excess in the Russian leader’s regime.