Ukrainian forces have destroyed key Russian air defence and jamming systems near Gelendzhik, leaving Vladimir Putin's £1bn Black Sea palace exposed, according to military analysts. The strikes, which took place in early August, targeted a Volna Kupol Garant electronic warfare station and a high-tech S-400 anti-aircraft missile unit.
Electronic Warfare Station Destroyed
On August 7, a massive Volna Kupol Garant electronic warfare station was wiped out near the resort hotspot of Gelendzhik, where Putin's sprawling seaside estate is located. The site, which spans the size of an entire military base, was designed to blackout enemy communications, specifically jamming Elon Musk's Starlink satellite network.
Just two days later, Ukrainian attackers struck a nearby S-400 anti-aircraft missile unit, dealing another crippling blow to the region's defences.
Expert Analysis
Military expert Yan Matveyev explained that knocking out the jamming system paved the way for Ukrainian kamikaze drones to hunt down and destroy Russia's prized S-400 missile launchers. Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said: "Satellite imagery shows the destruction of at least one launcher... Now Putin's 'palace' is left unprotected."
Major Robert Brovdi, chief of Ukraine's unmanned drone forces, confirmed the devastating impact on the S-400, revealing the system had been "left ablaze and sputtering for three hours".
The Palace
The 16-storey subterranean lair and bunker exploded into global headlines in 2021 after late opposition leader Alexei Navalny dropped a viral exposé. Navalny claimed the pad cost nearly £1billion and was financed through the "largest bribe in history" handed out by Putin's cronies.
The opulent estate boasts lavish features, including a private church, an amphitheatre, a tea house, a helipad, and vast vineyards. Inside, the tyrant can enjoy his own underground ice rink, a private casino and multiple fine-dining restaurants.
Despite the luxury, the paranoid Russian president rarely stays at the Gelendzhik complex, preferring his heavily fortified fortress on Lake Valdai, located roughly 185 miles east of Moscow. Putin has repeatedly denied ownership, while allied billionaire Arkady Rotenberg claims to be the true owner.
Wider Campaign
The strike came amid a massive wave of aerial attacks, with Russia's Defence Ministry claiming its forces shot down more than 500 Ukrainian drones nationwide overnight. The intense campaign follows previous drone blitzes targeting oil tankers at Russia's strategic Black Sea hub in Novorossiysk.
However, the naval strikes were abruptly called off following intervention from US Vice President JD Vance. American officials raised concerns last month after Ukrainian attacks threatened global oil stability by hitting tankers moving Kazakh crude. According to the Financial Times, Kyiv has agreed to hold off targeting non-Russian ships, provided they are not transporting Russian oil or sanctioned cargo.
