The vacation home of Russian President Vladimir Putin was exposed to a drone attack after a missile launch pad that used to guard one of Putin's lavish vacation homes was set ablaze, the Telegraph reported. The missile launch pad is around 12 miles from Putin's Italianate palace complex near Gelendzhik, southern Russia. Major Robert Brovdi, the commander of Ukraine's unmanned systems forces, claimed that the launchpad was ablaze and sputtering for three hours.
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Ukrainian media claimed that the S-400 air-defense system that guarded the residence fired six missiles before getting damaged. Satellite images taken after the strike showed at least one launcher was destroyed, Brovdi said.
On August 7, Ukrainian forces disabled a nearby electronic-warfare station known as Volna Kupol Garant, which had been jamming Starlink satellite communications within a roughly 20-kilometer radius around the residence, a Moscow Times report said. Military analyst Yan Matveev told The Moscow Times that knocking out the large, easily recognizable station opened the way for the attack on the S-400; the station had been effective against drones.
What is inside Putin's vacation home?
Not much is known about the vacation home, but The Telegraph reported, based on claims, that the luxurious complex housed a casino, vineyard, spa, ice rink, theatre, pole-dancing room, hookah lounge, “aquatic disco”, miniature railway room and more. In 2023, it was reported that a chapel had been added.
Putin rarely visits the Black Sea vacation home and prefers his highly fortified luxury dacha on Lake Valdai, 185 miles east of Moscow. This residence is believed to be home to Alina Kabaeva, his secret long-term partner, and their two sons. It is protected by at least 27 towers mounted with Pantsir anti-aircraft systems, costing some £16m per unit.
Ukraine’s military intelligence said on Monday that Kyiv’s drones had also struck two Russian S-400 Triumf air defence launchers, as well as an antenna it uses to control medium-altitude Orion drones in occupied Crimea. Losses from the strike could amount to the equivalent of tens of millions of dollars, Ukraine’s directorate of intelligence said.
