Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, has moved his two elder daughters into his heavily guarded £1.4 billion forest complex, driven by growing fears of assassination. The 73-year-old Kremlin leader is increasingly anxious about the Kremlin's lack of progress in the Ukraine conflict and the struggling Russian economy.
Heightened Security Measures
Putin has ordered urgent checks on Russia's surveillance camera system, concerned it could be hacked by adversaries to track his movements from the Valdai Palace. His residence in the Novgorod region, where he lives with mistress Alina Kabaeva, 43, and their sons Ivan, 11, and Vladimir, six, is equipped with air defenses and anti-missile systems.
Despite anti-drone teams, Ukraine's deep-strike drones have proven difficult to counter. A recent Ukrainian drone attack on St Petersburg, Putin's hometown, during a major trade forum humiliated the president. He has also refused to meet Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky after Zelensky published a letter highlighting Putin's failures.
Inspiration from Iran Incident
Putin's fear of assassination intensified after Israel killed Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei by penetrating Tehran's surveillance system. Ukraine's long-range attacks have exposed Putin's inability to protect Russia, stemming from his war in Ukraine and domestic mismanagement. Putin could end the war by agreeing to a ceasefire, but he refuses despite Zelensky's overtures.
Daughters Relocated to Valdai
Reports indicate that Putin's daughter Maria Vorontsova, 41, a married mother-of-two and endocrinologist, has moved to the Valdai palace along with Katerina Tikhonova, 39, a wealthy mother-of-one and former rock'n'roll dancer who oversees Russian science and technology. The Valdai complex, one of Russia's most secure locations, includes a state-of-the-art bunker. The relocation aims to protect his daughters and three grandchildren.
Another daughter, Luiza Rozova, 23, from Putin's relationship with ex-lover Svetlana Krivinogikh, lives mainly in Paris and is not believed to reside at Valdai. Vorontsova and Tikhonova's mother is former first lady Lyudmila Putina, who divorced Putin in 2014.
War and Economic Toll
The Ukraine war, which began with the February 2022 invasion, has cost Russia over one million soldiers killed or wounded. The economy is deteriorating, and Ukrainian drone strikes have repeatedly damaged Russia's energy and industrial infrastructure.
