Vladimir Putin's former security guard reveals details about his secret palace: 'It's a fantasy place'

Vladimir Putin has faced a lot of press attention as Ukraine fights to regain control of Crimea, the peninsula that Russia illegally annexed in 2014. As Putin makes headlines over his recent meeting with Kim Jong-un to discuss an arms deal, an ex-security guard has divulged very interesting details about the Russian President’s property in Crimea.

Vitaly Brizhatiy, who reportedly worked as part of Putin’s security team in Crimea, appeared on TV Rain - an independent Russian TV station exiled from the country - to give an interview. Talking about the Russian President, he described his luxury palace and revealed embarrassing details about Putin’s paranoia.

Former security guard reveals details about Putin’s ‘fantasy place’

Vitaly Brizhatiy was a dog handler for the Federal Protection Service in Olivye, which is one of Putin’s secret residences in Crimea. Brizhatiy defected because he felt he couldn’t support the war in Ukraine so he fled to Ecuador. However, he remembers clearly what life was like at Olivye.

He described it as a luxurious ‘mini-city’ that was always running on all systems. It is one of around eight ‘homes’ that Putin chooses between, so staff never really know when to expect him.

However, they are always ready for him to make a sudden appearance - to the extent that fresh food and flowers are constantly being replaced. Like Putin’s other multi-million dollar residences, this ‘fantasy’ world is fully kitted out:

There are fitness halls, fountains, beautiful parks, tea house barbecue zones and beaches.

Putin’s paranoia is out of control

The former security agent also revealed that Putin has been driven to extreme paranoia after his invasion of Ukraine made him one of the most hated men on the planet.

The Russian President doesn’t even trust his security staff to keep him safe: he lies to them about where he is staying to make it impossible for enemies to track him down. Brizhatiy explained:

People were told ‘he’s resting at the dacha’ and everybody is running around guarding him but he could be in another place altogether.

Staff have to hand in mobile phones and civilians are effectively banned from the site. Armed guards patrol the sea around the palace’s private beaches. Even the position of washing machine operator is held by a bodyguard.

Well, if you were Putin you wouldn’t want anyone airing your dirty laundry either, would you? It seems The Russian President is living in a constant state of fear.

Read more:

⋙ Kim Jong-un reportedly spends $30 million a year on this one bad habit

⋙ US official issues serious warning as Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin are reportedly joining forces

Sources used:

Express: Putin keeps bodyguard by his washing machine as he's so scared of assassination

The Telegraph: Paranoid Putin ‘uses bodyguard to operate his washing machine’