Ukraine wipes out missile system guarding 'Putin's Palace' in huge blow to Russian despot

Ukraine claimed the air defence system was left 'ablaze and sputtering for three hours'.

The Black Sea mansion has been dubbed 'Putin's Palace' (Image: YouTube/Alexei Navalny)

A Russian missile system believed to be guarding a mansion dubbed ‘Putin’s Palace’ has been destroyed by Ukrainian drones, it is claimed. Major Robert "Magyar" Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s unmanned systems force, said his troops struck the S-400 anti-aircraft missile complex in Gelendzhik, a seaside town in south-eastern Russia.

The air defence system is around 12 miles from the Black Sea mansion that reportedly belongs to Vladimir Putin. Maj Brovdi claimed the missile complex was left “ablaze and sputtering for three hours” after being hit overnight on Saturday. The S-400 is designed to down targets including aircraft, drones and cruise missiles.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (Image: Getty)

In a post on Telegram, Maj Brovdi also claimed the system had been used to fire six miles at Ukraine hours before it was destroyed.

An electronic warfare system near the huge home allegedly owned by the Russian President was also struck around a day earlier, according to reports.

The residence was coined ‘Putin’s Palace’ in a documentary by the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny who died in 2024.

The sprawling home is said to include a casino, ice rink and vineyard, and be protected by a 27-square-mile “buffer zone”.

According to The Telegraph, it is believed Mr Putin rarely visits the residence amid the threat of long-range Ukraine strikes.

It is also thought he increasingly favours his hideaway on Lake Valdai where it is understood his long-term partner and their two sons are staying.

The residence, nearly 200 miles from Moscow, is reportedly guarded by at least 27 air defence towers.

On Tuesday, Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia used North Korean missiles in a large-scale attack on the city of Zaporizhzhia overnight.

Its mayor said six people were killed and at least 19 were injured.

Mr Zelensky said North Korean ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles and guided aerial bombs were used in the "vicious" attack which he alleged was “calculated to inflict maximum damage specifically on civilian infrastructure”.

The Ukrainian President also warned of North Korea providing greater military support to Russia.

He said Moscow has received “additional ballistic missiles" from Pyongyang and is “preparing to deploy an additional North Korean contingent on its territory”.