The Daily Populous Friday August 29th, 2025 night edition
Authored by novayagazeta.eu and submitted by shellfishb

A forest fire caused by a Ukrainian drone attack near the town of Gelendzhik, in southern Russia, appears to be approaching one of Vladimir Putin’s luxury residences in the area, independent media outlet IStories reported on Thursday.

The fire broke out on Thursday, regional authorities have reported, spreading across at least 14 hectares and reaching Tyomnaya Shchel, a picturesque valley by the Black Sea.

Earlier in the day, the Russian Defence Ministry reported that air defence systems had shot down 18 drones over the region and a further 22 over the adjacent Black Sea overnight.

IStories pointed out that Tyomnaya Shchel is a mere four kilometres from Cape Idokopas, where one of Putin’s residences is located. According to an investigation by Alexey Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), some 7,000 hectares surrounding “Putin’s palace” belong to Russia’s Federal Security Service. It remains unclear if the palace itself suffered damage as a result of the drone attack.

While the FBK said the palace and park ensemble was built for Putin on a site covering an area of 67.9 hectares near the village of Praskoveyevka, 20km from Gelendzhik, on the Black Sea coast, the Russian authorities have repeatedly denied that the property belongs to Putin.

jert3 on August 28th, 2025 at 17:29 UTC »

Great, hope it burns down the palace.

Guess it wouldnt make a huge difference as Putin already stole billions and billions of dollars from Russians to build it, wouldnt matter if it burnt down at this point, but sure would feel good.

Dangerous_Pause2044 on August 28th, 2025 at 16:06 UTC »

Send a few extra drones with jerry cans and a nozzle, and watch that creepy Putin smirk disappear

Phylanara on August 28th, 2025 at 16:05 UTC »

Oooh, incendiary drones could be... Pretty terrifying actually.