Vladimir Putin stands accused of constructing a secret £100 million ultra-luxury palace on a cliff edge in occupied Crimea, according to a major investigation. The sprawling complex, allegedly transformed for the Russian leader's use, was uncovered by the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), founded by the late Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.
The Lavish Details of a 'Nauseating' Residence
The FBK's investigation, published on December 30, 2025, depicts a scene of staggering opulence at Cape Aya on the Black Sea coast. The main house measures a colossal 96,975 square feet, with a second cliff-side building of nearly 53,820 square feet concealed beneath landscaped gardens. The estate boasts a private promenade, pier, an artificial beach with white sand, and a new helipad.
Investigators described interiors so lavish that "the sheer excess of luxury starts to make one feel slightly nauseous." The property features two 'royal bedrooms', with the main one spanning 2,600 square feet. A standout detail is a golden jacuzzi, accessible via a gold ladder and handrail, where one could ostensibly relax and watch Putin-controlled state television.
The bathroom fittings, shaped like flowers, reportedly cost £28,330 – enough, as investigators noted, to buy a studio flat in the Russian resort of Sochi. In the main bathrooms, the taps, toilet-paper holders, and robe hooks alone are said to have cost a combined £104,000.
A Private Hospital and Putin's Cryochamber
Perhaps more revealing than the luxury is an entire floor dedicated to a private hospital, raising immediate questions about the Russian president's health. This medical suite includes:
- A GP's consulting room and an ENT doctor's office.
- A dental surgery and a full-scale operating theatre.
- State-of-the-art German and Finnish medical devices, including an ultrasound machine costing 2 million roubles (£17,400).
- An operating table priced at 4 million roubles (£34,800), a ventilator, defibrillator, and anaesthesia machine.
- Equipment for gastroscopy, colonoscopy, and analysing jaw muscle function.
Anti-corruption campaigner Maria Pevchikh identified a key feature: a cryochamber. "The queen of Putin’s residences... the big red flag pointing to the owner of this luxurious palace: the cryochamber," she stated. "Here Putin rejuvenates at –110°C." This extreme cold therapy chamber, used for muscle recovery and circulation, is a device the FBK insists is a hallmark of Putin's personal spaces.
Funding and a Controversial History
The FBK alleges the £100 million (10 billion rouble) lair was funded through the same shadowy network used for Putin's lavish Gelendzhik estate. Ownership is reportedly masked by a web of companies linked to oligarchs who have prospered under his rule.
Intriguingly, the complex was originally built for ousted Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych before being seized and transformed into what investigators call Putin's "huge palace." The basement now serves as an entertainment zone with an intimate cinema for eight people.
The report concludes that the presence of the cryochamber is a telling signature, summarising: "In our experience, there is only one person who adores these devices and insistently installs them in residential spaces: Vladimir Putin." The findings paint a picture of immense, secretive luxury in a region whose annexation by Russia in 2014 remains unrecognised internationally.
