Ukraine appears to be edging closer to a strike on Vladimir Putin's reported £1billion Black Sea palace, after a drone attack knocked out air defence systems protecting the estate. Reports suggest the assault has left the heavily fortified compound near Gelendzhik, long linked to the Russian president despite his denials of ownership, more vulnerable to further attacks. The development would mark a significant escalation in Ukraine's campaign of long-range strikes deep inside Russian territory, targeting symbols of the Kremlin leadership rather than purely military infrastructure.

The palace, often dubbed "Putin's Palace", has been the subject of investigations alleging it was built using illicit funds and features lavish amenities including a casino, theatre and vineyard. Ukrainian forces have increasingly used drones to strike targets far from the front line, including oil refineries and military sites, as part of a strategy to pressure Moscow and disrupt its war effort. The reported degradation of the site's air defences raises the prospect that further Ukrainian strikes could directly target the estate itself.