Ukrainian forces set fire to Putin's Black Sea resort missile site

Ukraine announced that its unmanned aerial assets struck the S-400 “Triumph” missile launch pad that secures the disputed luxury compound in Gelendzhik, igniting a fire that lasted three hours. Major Robert Brovdi said the system, originally intended to counter drones and aircraft, had been repurposed to fire missiles at Ukrainian targets, including a recent strike on Saturday. The hit undermines Russia’s defensive buffer around the estate, which sits within a one-square-mile no-fly zone and a larger 27-square-mile perimeter.

Kyiv’s operation occurs while Ukraine faces a deficit of Patriot interceptors, a shortfall compounded by limited donations from European partners and U.S. resources tied up elsewhere. The residence, often called “Putin’s Palace,” has drawn scrutiny for its estimated $1 billion price tag and claims that it was built for the Russian leader, a narrative amplified by a 2021 video from Alexei Navalny’s team. The latest attack adds to a broader Ukrainian campaign targeting Russian logistics and energy infrastructure.