Fire Near Putin’s Black Sea Palace Spreads Over 41 Hectares

A forest fire ignited near the Russian Black Sea resort town of Gelendzhik after debris from a Ukrainian drone strike fell in the area, with the fire spreading over 41.5 hectares by August 29. The blaze occurred close to a luxurious palace and winery linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin, located approximately 10 kilometers from the village of Krinitsa, with some fire hotspots reported as near as 850 meters to the Krinitsa winery and 3-4 kilometers from the palace. These properties have been subjects of investigations by Russian opposition figures, notably Alexei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, which exposed the lavishness and alleged corrupt financing behind the palace and winery. Since May 2024, the palace's entertainment zones were reportedly replaced by military-themed halls and a chapel, reflecting Putin's increased focus on war and religion. Russian authorities have deployed hundreds of firefighters, helicopters, and planes to contain the fire, which so far has not directly threatened the palace itself. The drone strikes form part of Ukraine's ongoing efforts since 2022 to disrupt Russian military logistics by targeting infrastructure within Russia.