Uncovering Putin's Hidden Black Sea Bunker in Gelendzhik
Plans for two elaborate tunnels running beneath Vladimir Putin's billion-dollar palace complex overlooking the Black Sea were publicly posted online by a Russian contractor in the early 2010s. The underground complex consists of two separate tunnels connected by an elevator that descends roughly 50 meters below the surface. The tunnels are encased in thick concrete and supplied with enough fresh water, ventilation, and extensive cables to support VIP occupants for days or weeks at a time. The tunnels' purpose appears to be a kind of emergency spinal cord for the entire palace complex, and their existence demonstrates Putin's concern with staying alive.