On an expansive area, an extravagant palace overlooks the Russian-Finnish border, allegedly belonging to Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to the "Dossier" Center, a Russian investigative organization tracking various individuals connected to the Kremlin. Leaked details and aerial footage of the palace, located on the shores of the Magalehti Bay on Lake Ladoga, reveal it is protected round-the-clock by barbed wire fences, intelligence officers, and drone jamming devices. The secret complex lies deep within the forests of the northern Karelia region, as reported by the British newspaper "Telegraph."
It includes three properties known as The Barn, The Fisherman’s Hut, and The Garden House. Previously leaked details indicate that the three luxurious properties are furnished with costly decorations, bathtubs costing £3,500 apiece, and flooring made of Italian Fiore di Bosco marble valued at £85,000. It is believed that Putin visits the palace at least once a year, according to local residents. During his visits, local security is replaced by FSO personnel, and entrances and nearby islands are closed off.
The three homes feature two helicopter landing pads, several marine docks, a trout fish farm, and a herd of cows. The land also includes a factory equipped with Austrian brewing equipment worth nearly £300,000, capable of producing a daily barley beverage, and a tea room on the second floor overlooking Lake Ladoga. Additionally, drone footage published alongside the report shows a waterfall, alleged to be stolen from the Ladoga Skerries National Park.
It is unclear how reporters from the center managed to evade security to access the property, as it is typically only reachable by boats or aircraft. A large elevated bridge is present, which could be used to establish an air defense system in the rear of the main property. The "Dossier" Center claimed that the ownership of Karelia is funded through companies linked to Putin's partners and Kremlin-friendly oligarchs.
It further added that the property owner is listed as Yuri Kovaltchuk, the head of Rossiya Bank, described by the U.S. Treasury as Putin's "personal banker." He is said to manage a network responsible for "the president's recreational activities and all his properties." Kovaltchuk owns a nearby hotel, while the adjacent residence is owned by Roman Abramovich, the former owner of Chelsea Football Club, who is under Western sanctions.
It is noteworthy that the Russian president has very few declared assets in his name. These include a small apartment in St. Petersburg, two Soviet-era cars from the 1950s, a trailer, and a small garage, alongside his presidential salary of approximately £110,000 annually. Following the emergence of the "Dossier" Center report, Putin's presidential campaign head stated on Tuesday that the majority of the Russian leader's savings consist of his annual salary.
