- Summary Points
- Vladimir Putin reportedly owns a lavish estate near Finland’s border, featuring high-end amenities.
- The estate includes costly bidets, expensive shower heads, and marble flooring.
- The complex, under heavy security, houses three properties and various luxury facilities.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is said to own a secretive and opulent estate located in the forests near Lake Ladoga’s Majalahti Bay, just 20 miles from the border with Finland. This revelation comes from the Dossier Centre, a Russian investigative organization known for tracking Kremlin associates.
The expansive estate, kept under strict surveillance with security personnel, barbed-wire fences, and drone jammers, features three main properties: The Barn, The Fisherman’s Hut, and The Garden House. These lavish dwellings are adorned with high-end fittings, including bidets costing £8,000 each, shower heads priced at £3,500, and flooring made from Fior di Bosco Italian marble valued at £85,000.
Putin reportedly visits this estate annually, as indicated by local residents and heightened security measures during his stays. The Federal Guard Service (FSO) is said to replace local security, with neighboring areas and islands being sealed off during the president’s visits.
The estate, spanning approximately 1,000 acres – roughly twice the size of Monaco – started construction over a decade ago. It boasts numerous luxury features: two helipads, several jetties, a trout farm, a cow herd for marbled beef production, and even a beer factory equipped with Austrian brewing equipment capable of producing 82 pints a day. A second-floor tea room offers views over Lake Ladoga.
Of particular interest is a waterfall within the estate’s grounds, allegedly “stolen” from the nearby Ladoga Skerries National Park. The estate also features a large embankment that could potentially house an air-defense system, with vehicle tracks indicating possible surface-to-air missile system placements. This aligns with the known practice of securing Putin’s residences with air-defense systems.
The funding for this grand estate is reportedly linked to Putin’s associates and Kremlin-friendly oligarchs. The Dossier Centre identifies Yury Kovalchuk, chairman of Bank Rossiya and dubbed Putin’s “personal banker,” as the owner on record. He allegedly oversees a network managing Putin’s leisure activities and real estate. Additionally, a nearby hotel and another residence are owned by Kovalchuk and Roman Abramovich, the Western-sanctioned former owner of Chelsea Football Club, respectively.
Despite this luxurious estate, Putin’s officially declared assets are modest, including a small apartment, vintage cars, a trailer, a garage, and his presidential salary of about £110,000 per year. The Dossier Centre’s report challenges this official narrative, shedding light on the hidden opulence and security measures surrounding Putin’s private life.