Vladimir Putin has reportedly demolished his holiday villa by the Black Sea due to fears for his safety amidst escalating Ukraine strikes in the region, an opposition website in Russia has claimed. The villa near Sochi, a favourite retreat for the Russian President, has been targeted by Ukrainian drone attacks, leading to Putin’s decision to steer clear of the area, according to a report by Proekt.
Satellite images released by the website show the villa intact in May 2023, and then completely razed in May 2024, with the site now resembling a pit. A source familiar with Putin revealed that he has not visited the villa for seven months, breaking a tradition of celebrating his secret lover Alina Kabaeva’s birthday there in May. Kremlin officials were surprised by the lack of invitations to the dacha, known as Bocharov Ruchey, where they used to hold meetings.
The images from the satellite reveal a sprawling estate with a large house and outbuildings in 2023, contrasted with a barren demolition site where the villa once stood in 2024. Reports suggest that Putin used to spend up to 37 days a year at the Sochi villa but has significantly reduced his visits due to heightened drone attacks from Ukrainian forces over the past year.
Despite having hosted UN officials and renovated the property, Putin’s concerns for his safety have led to the abandonment of what was presumed to be one of his cherished holiday homes. Bocharov Ruchey, originally constructed by the Soviet Union for its leaders, was modernized by Putin and even featured a replica of his Moscow office to create the illusion of working from the capital.
Since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Putin has limited his travel movements out of fear of potential assassination attempts. Isolating himself at the dacha during the pandemic, he took advantage of the milder climate in Sochi compared to Moscow. The Russian President also has other residences, including a holiday home in the Karelia region and his official residence in Moscow.
Observers noted Putin’s dwindling public appearances and travels in recent years, with security concerns playing a pivotal role in altering his routine and lifestyle choices. Putin’s retreat from his beloved Sochi villa signifies the far-reaching implications of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, impacting even the daily habits of the country’s leader.