Dramatic pictures have appeared to show a dacha, or mansion, believed to belong to Vladimir Putin being engulfed in flames, in a humiliating blow for the Russian President.
The property – thought to be one of Putin’s holiday homes, containing a secret bunker to which he allegedly fled during the pandemic – is shown ablaze in pictures circulated online.
An analysis by Siren, which bills itself as offering “uncensored news about war, mobilisation and the situation in Russia” said the fire broke out Putin’s dacha in the Ongudai region of the Altai Republic, resulting in it being “almost completely burned down”.
Siren’s investigators claimed the picture was genuine, publishing details via the Telegram messaging app.
A post explained: “The photo shows identical elements of the exterior decoration of the building: the colour of the facade, the green spaces located next to the building, and the roof of the neighbouring building included in the photo match.”
Footage of the burning building had been published by blogger Amyr Aitashev and activist Aruna Arna, and had been from different, the post continued.
It stressed: “In a conversation with Sirena, Aitashev clarified that the photo he published was taken today. The cause of the fire is unknown.
“The photo checking services used by the editors did not find any traces of processing on the frames.”
The operational duty officer of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations for the Altai Republic did not respond to Siren’s questions about the blaze.
Bizarre details about the building, rumoured to have cost just over £26 billion (three billion roubles) emerged in 2010.
Officially known as the Altai Compound sanatorium and resort complex, owned by gas giant Gazprom, it is not actually possible to stay there.
In 2011, Novaya Gazeta correspondents were refused access by security, being told “a specially protected facility is intended for the recreation of senior officials of the state.”
Gazprom said the complex was needed for “meetings with business partners, corporate events and receiving foreign guests.”
Local opposition figures have on numerous occasions claimed the building is linked to Putin.
In 2017, Express.co.uk reported that the Russian leader likes taking baths in blood extracted from the severed antlers of Maral deer at the facility.
Putin, 64, first asked about the medicinal benefits of Maral – or red deer – antler extract a decade ago and his prime minister Dmitry Medvedev is also keen on the blood baths, claims news outlet Republic.
They added: “Since that time the President has visited Altai many times, sometimes even several times a year.”
One Altai farm – which exports antlers for use in Chinese medicinal cures – said: “Extract from red deer antlers acts as a strong tonic, especially for men’s potency.
“It strengthens the body’s bones, muscles, teeth, eye sight and hearing, cures pleurisy, pneumonia, asthma, joint pain, osteoporosis, and problems with the spine.”