Although he does not officially own the property, the luxury estate in the Altai Republic has long been associated with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Recently, this property was struck by a massive fire, almost completely destroying one of the buildings.
The Russian media outlet Sirena reported on the incident and published images of the burning building on its Telegram channel. According to Finnish media Iltalehti, the incident has garnered a lot of attention.
The cause of the fire is still unknown, and Sirena's inquiries to the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Altai have yet to be answered.
According to news reports, the property, officially owned by the gas company Gazprom, functions as a sanatorium and resort complex. Gazprom has previously stated that the complex is used for business meetings and corporate events.
Putin's Connections to the Property
The story of the property dates back to 2010 when Gazprom first announced its existence. In 2011, journalists from Novaya Gazeta were denied access to the site due to security measures, further fueling speculation about Putin's connection to the location.
Russian opposition media have repeatedly reported that Putin used the property as a hideout, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this has never been officially confirmed.
In 2015, the resort hosted a visit by then Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Last week, a representative of Ukrainian defense intelligence, Andrii Yusov, stated that the intelligence service knew the locations of Putin's bunkers but declined to reveal further details.
The Republic of Altai, where the property is located, lies in the Altai Mountains on the border between Central Asia and Siberia, a remote and scenic area befitting the understated luxury often associated with Putin's retreats.
