Putin's luxurious palace left unprotected after AFU strikes
Ukrainian strikes destroyed the S-400 and the Volna-Kupol-Garant electronic warfare system near Putin's residence in Gelendzhik, leaving it without air defense coverage. The facility, worth about £1 billion, according to the Daily Mail, has lost key systems. Analysts confirm serious damage.
Ukrainian long-range strikes have significantly weakened the air defense system protecting the luxurious residence of the Russian leadership in Gelendzhik, estimated to be worth about £1 billion, according to the Daily Mail. On August 7, the Volna-Kupol-Garant electronic warfare system, which suppressed Starlink satellite communications of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, was destroyed near the complex. Two days later, a nearby S-400 surface-to-air missile system suffered the same fate. The elimination of the EW systems cleared the way for drones to reach this air defense system, which shortly before its destruction had been involved in launching missiles at Ukrainian territory. The S-400 position was located about 12 miles from the residence. The commander of the Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces, 'Madyar', noted that the facility burned and sparked for three hours. Military analyst Yan Matveyev confirmed via satellite imagery the destruction of at least one launcher, emphasizing that the complex is now left without cover. The vast complex, covering about 17,700 square meters, includes a 16-story underground section, a bunker reinforced in the rock, and extensive grounds. The facility gained wide notoriety in 2021 after an investigation by Alexei Navalny's foundation, which claimed the property was built as the largest bribe for Vladimir Putin. The area is protected by a no-fly zone and dozens of towers with Pantsir systems. Due to the threat of long-range drone attacks, the Russian leader rarely visits the Black Sea residence, preferring a facility on Valdai, while Ukrainian forces continue a targeted hunt for air defense systems in the south and in Crimea.