Sochi sanctuary no more: Putin's retreat razed amid threats
The main building of Vladimir Putin's Bocharov Ruchey residence in Sochi has been completely demolished, reports Proekt. The dictator has also reportedly stopped flying to his cherished city. After the drone attacks, he feared for his life, said one source.
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According to Proekt, an investigative service run by independent journalists, President Vladimir Putin has not visited Sochi for seven months, although he used to spend significant time there regularly.
Putin fears for his life
The reason? A source informed journalists that the dictator "began to fear for his life after the drone attacks on targets in the city".
In 2024, Putin did not even travel to Sochi for the May birthday of Alina Kabaeva – a Russian gymnast and Putin's alleged lover – a tradition he had maintained since 2012.
Journalists also obtained satellite images of Putin's residence. Comparisons revealed that the main Bocharov Ruchey building had been demolished.
The demolition of the facility commenced in February and concluded in March. "Currently, there is a pit on the residence's premises around which construction equipment is active. The reason for the building's demolition was not disclosed," it states.
The Bocharov Ruchey-2 building, situated on the outskirts of the site, is also on the premises of the complex. It houses a press centre and a conference room, among other facilities. The last occasion Putin hosted guests at the Bocharov Ruchey-2 complex was in March 2024, when he met with IAEA chief Rafael Grossi.
Fire at Putin's residence
In May 2024, in the village of Onguday in the Altai Republic, one of the buildings in the residence where Putin hosted Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in 2013 burned down completely. The cause of the fire remains unexplained to this day.
Proekt is an independent Russian media outlet specialising in investigative journalism. Since 2019, Russian authorities have monitored the journalists following publications about the Wagner Group. Their work has often been cited by "The New York Times," among others.
