Investigators have uncovered a hidden network of nearly identical offices across Russian retreats, used to conceal the president’s presence during key moments.
Network of Secret Copies Across Russia
Journalists from Radio Wolna Europa discovered a hidden element of Putin’s power: a network of almost identical secret offices spread across his various residences. These replicas are used to conduct key decisions away from Moscow and the public eye. The report relied on photos, state documents, building plans, and media routes to locate Putin during pivotal moments.
Moscow Residence Remains Official Seat
Since the early 2000s, the official suburban residence in Novo‑Ogaryov has been Putin’s central location. In 2011, a 120‑meter office was built there, a plain beige room where most meetings and signing of documents occurred. Despite its importance, growing insecurity led to alternative offices.
Security Upgrades After Crimea Annexation
After the 2014 annexation, Putin’s obsession with protection increased. The Kremlin constructed hardened military‑grade security measures, including deserted streets for isolation, media‑controlled surveillance, and early‑recorded “conservation” footage. The Novo‑Ogaryov area became difficult to secure fully.
Sochi Double Office Revealed
In December 2020, a Kremlin TV journalist released footage that appeared to show Putin in the Novo‑Ogaryov office. Analysts noted subtle differences in door panels and furnishings, indicating a replica. A 2022 leak of state‑television correspondence confirmed that reporters were sent to the Dagomys hotel in Sochi, adjacent to the presidential residence, where the replica had been completed in summer 2018. Visitors had to isolate for two weeks at Dagomys or a nearby sanatorium before meeting Putin.
Third Office Used in Kemerowe Tragedy
A third replica, located in Waldaj—also called Wardaj—a highly guarded estate, hosted Putin’s meetings during the 2018 Kemerowe mall fire. Detailed image analysis revealed slight differences from the Novo‑Ogaryov set. In this office, Putin held around 130 meetings, mostly remote, including those that appeared on TV while the rumor was that they were in the official office.
Shift to Remote Locations Amid War
With the full‑scale war in 2024, Putin rarely stayed in Sochi; the Sochi replica vanished from official releases due to fear of Ukrainian drone attacks on an open coastal site. By 2025, he stopped using Novo‑Ogaryov altogether; most of his public appearances since January 2025 were in the Waldaj replica. Air‑defence positions were already operating at Waldaj, making it safer than the suburban Moscow residence.