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Ukrainian drone strikes sparked massive forest fires that came within miles of Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s opulent mansion along the Black Sea, known as “Putin’s Palace.”

As many as 100 emergency crews battled the fiery scene, which was triggered by falling debris from a Ukrainian drone downed by Moscow defenses, local Russian authorities said.

The flames spread just six miles from Putin’s sprawling 190,000-square-foot compound at Cape Idokopas, near the resort town of Gelendzhik, located not far from Crimea, according to reports from authorities.


  The Black Sea palace is 1,000 miles from Moscow Youtube/Alexey Navalny The Black Sea palace is 1,000 miles from Moscow Youtube/Alexey Navalny

  The forest fires came within miles of Putin’s palace. Telegram/Operational headquarters – Krasnodar Region The forest fires came within miles of Putin’s palace. Telegram/Operational headquarters – Krasnodar Region

But an independent Russian investigative outlet, IStories, placed the Thursday blaze even closer to the Russian strongman’s palatial villa, saying the fire broke out just two miles from the palace.

No injuries or deaths were reported, though local emergency services said 23 vacationers were cut off from evacuation routes by the smoke and had to be brought to safety by boat.

It’s not known whether the palace was the intended target of Kyiv’s strikes.

Putin has become increasingly paranoid about attempts to take him out — last year demolishing his holiday villa in Sochi in the midst of his war on Ukraine, fearing it could be vulnerable to airstrikes.


  The palace reportedly cost $1.5 billion to build. palace.navalny.com The palace reportedly cost $1.5 billion to build. palace.navalny.com

The existence of Putin’s palace on the Black Sea, roughly 1,000 miles from Moscow, first came to light in a 2021 documentary video by Russian dissident Alexei Navalny — who died last year while serving time in a Siberian penal colony.

Navalny had alleged the Russian tyrant had built the $1.5 billion hideaway with fraudulently obtained funds from oil oligarchs and other billionaire allies.

The palace was built with a casino, theater, hockey rink and vineyard — it even included a “hookah lounge” that reportedly served as Putin’s own seedy strip club.


  A “hookah lounge” doubled as a strip club, according to reports. Youtube/Alexey Navalny A “hookah lounge” doubled as a strip club, according to reports. Youtube/Alexey Navalny

  The palace was originally built with a casino, though it was reportedly removed in renovations last year. Youtube/Alexey Navalny The palace was originally built with a casino, though it was reportedly removed in renovations last year. Youtube/Alexey Navalny

But the estate was reportedly renovated last year, swapping the strip poles and casino for a chapel and military paintings, to reflect Putin’s growing fixation with religion and war, according to an independent Russian investigation tied to Navalny’s FBK Anti-Corruption Foundation.

Navalny had claimed the mansion had impregnable fences, its own port, its own security, a no-fly zone and its own border checkpoint even — essentially acting as a separate state within Russia.


  Putin has never admitted to owning the Black Sea palace. via REUTERS Putin has never admitted to owning the Black Sea palace. via REUTERS

  100 emergency crews battled the blaze, which was caused by debris from a downed Ukrainian drone. Telegram/Operational headquarters – Krasnodar Region 100 emergency crews battled the blaze, which was caused by debris from a downed Ukrainian drone. Telegram/Operational headquarters – Krasnodar Region

Plans also revealed a dual-tunnel bunker where Putin and his political allies could survive, if needed, for several weeks with access to fresh water, ventilation and a complex cable system.

At the time, the allegations about how Putin obtained the compound – and Navalny’s arrest just days before his video was released – sparked widespread protests across Russia.

Putin has continued to deny owning the Black Sea palace.

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