The Independent reports that Ukraine is destroying air defence systems near Russian President Vladimir Putin’s $1bn palace on the Black Sea coast.
Two attacks over the last week have targeted military assets in Gelendzhik, around 12 miles from the Russian leader’s holiday home.
On 7 August, Ukrainian drone attacks struck Volna Kupol Garant, Russian electronic warfare equipment designed to jam Starlink communications over an area of 20 sq m, The Moscow Times reports.
On Sunday, a further strike was launched on an S-400 anti-aircraft missile system and launch pad just 500m away from the previous attack.
Major Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s unmanned systems forces said the S-400 had fired six missiles on Sunday night before it was left “ablaze and sputtering for three hours”.
“Now Putin’s palace is left unprotected,” he said. The S-400 is use to defend against air attacks from missiles and drones alike.
Ukraine has been launching attacks deeper into Russian territory in recent weeks, including a drone attack more than 600 miles into enemy territory earlier this week.
Putin’s residences enjoy extensive protection, including 27 air defense towers and anti-aircraft systems around his Lake Valdai mansion, a Radio Svoboda investigation based on satellite imagery found.
Putin’s Black Sea mansion was first exposed following an investigation by his opponent Alexei Navalny’s Anti Corruption Foundation that estimated the construction of the building cost $1.2bn.
The huge complex is said to cover 7,000 hectares of land included a cinema, multiple restaurants and a hockey rink all surrounded by a no-fly zone, reportedly owned by the Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB).
