Casino, spa, theatre and ‘aquatic disco’: What is inside Putin’s controversial Black Sea palace attacked by Ukrainian drones

A luxury Black Sea estate linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin has again drawn attention after Ukrainian forces reportedly struck an air-defence system positioned near the sprawling property in Gelendzhik, southern Russia. The reported attack has put the spotlight back on the lavish complex, which has long been surrounded by controversy over its ownership, cost and extraordinary list of reported amenities.

The property, popularly known as “Putin’s Palace,” is an enormous Italianate-style complex overlooking the Black Sea. Its ownership has been disputed. Putin has denied owning the residence, while Russian billionaire Arkady Rotenberg previously claimed that he owned the property.

The estate became internationally known after an investigation by the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny described the property as an exceptionally large and heavily guarded luxury compound. Reports about the estate have claimed that the main building covers about 17,000 square metres and contains a range of facilities more commonly associated with a luxury resort than a private residence.

What is inside Putin’s reported Black Sea palace?

According to reports, the complex includes an indoor swimming pool, spa, saunas and Turkish baths. It also reportedly has a casino, theatre and cinema, music lounge and hookah bar. One of its most unusual features has been described as an “aquatic disco,” a detail that became particularly famous in Russia after Navalny’s investigation.

The property has also been reported to contain a vineyard and an underground ice-hockey arena, along with numerous guest rooms and other recreational spaces. A pole-dancing stage has also been reported as part of the elaborate entertainment facilities.

The “aquatic disco” became particularly notorious because it was turned into a cultural reference in Russia. The phrase inspired the name of a satirical song and became associated with protests following the release of Navalny’s investigation into the property.

Why was Putin’s palace in the news again?

The estate came back into the spotlight after Ukrainian forces reportedly targeted Russian air-defence infrastructure near Gelendzhik.

The Telegraph reported that a Ukrainian drone strike hit an S-400 air-defence position located about 12 miles from the palace complex. Major Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s unmanned systems forces, said the position remained ablaze for several hours. Ukrainian sources also claimed that the S-400 had fired six missiles before being damaged.

The reported strike followed an earlier Ukrainian operation against a nearby electronic-warfare facility. Ukrainian officials have said the Volna Kupol Garant system was capable of disrupting Starlink communications over an area of roughly 20 square kilometres.

The reported damage to air-defence infrastructure has raised questions about the security around the residence, although the palace itself was not reported to have been directly hit.

A palace surrounded by controversy

The Gelendzhik estate has remained one of the most controversial properties associated with Putin. Its reported scale and unusual amenities have made it a symbol of the debate over the Russian president’s wealth and lifestyle.

At the same time, the Kremlin has rejected claims that Putin owns the property, while Rotenberg has said he owns it. Because of those conflicting claims, descriptions of it as Putin’s personal palace should be treated as an allegation or commonly used nickname rather than an established fact.

Now, with Ukrainian drones reportedly striking air-defence systems near the estate, the controversial Black Sea property has once again become the focus of international attention — this time not only for its reported luxury, but also for the military shield surrounding it.