Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly governing the country from undisclosed locations, according to a recent investigation by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Sistema project. The report suggests that Putin has been seen in at least three nearly identical offices situated in different locations: Novo-Ogaryovo near Moscow, Sochi, and Valdai. This setup is purportedly designed to obscure his actual whereabouts.

Researchers analyzed more than 700 Kremlin videos and found that many appearances described as being at Novo-Ogaryovo were actually recorded at the Valdai residence, roughly 250 miles northwest of Moscow. They identified telltale clues such as thermostat shapes, door-handle placement and decorative lines on the wall. Leaked itineraries of state TV crews confirmed travel to Sochi and Valdai on dates when official captions said “near Moscow.” 

Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty’s Sistema project claims that these identical offices allow Putin to mask his true location, creating an illusion about where he is directing Russia’s affairs.

Konstantin Gaaze, an independent sociologist, compared Putin’s strategy of secrecy and information control to that of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Gaaze points out that Putin’s use of multiple identical rooms and concealed residences is reminiscent of Hussein’s tactics. Analysts also note that Valdai’s remote and forested terrain offers enhanced security, making it easier to protect with advanced air-defense systems compared to the Kremlin or Moscow’s suburbs.

The investigation highlights that these replica offices are strategically used by Putin to give the impression that he is in Moscow, even when he is in Sochi by the Black Sea or at his secluded estate in Valdai.

Putin’s official residence, Novo-Ogaryovo, which was established in the 1950s, has served as his primary office since the early 2000s. Satellite images reveal that the estate is heavily fortified, featuring high walls, helipads, and underground shelters. However, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Putin has been rarely spotted there. Investigators and satellite data reviewed by Dagens and Charter97 suggest that he predominantly resides at Valdai, a secured lakeside retreat nestled between Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The secrecy surrounding Putin’s whereabouts draws parallels with how Saddam Hussein operated, often meeting his top leaders in undisclosed locations.

His coastal residence, Bocharov Ruchey, in Sochi — once a preferred retreat — has been used less often since Ukrainian long-range drones reached Russia. Analysts say Valdai’s distance and cover make it a safer command center. 

The Sistema report claimed that the three matching offices were built gradually: Novo-Ogaryovo’s original in about 2015, Valdai’s copy by 2018, and Sochi’s by 2020. Each features the same beige palette, identical furniture and the Russian flag behind Putin’s desk. The duplication lets Kremlin media maintain the illusion of a single, stable seat of power.

Air defense systems around Vladimir Putin’s secluded forest residence in Valdai, north of Moscow. (East to West)

Russian opposition politician Maxim Katz told Fox News Digital that the findings reflect an obsession with personal safety, “He thinks NATO or the Ukrainians could strike him. For someone with a KGB background, it makes sense to have multiple identical rooms. They just didn’t execute it perfectly — you can see the differences.”

Katz said the same mentality governed Putin’s conduct during the pandemic.

Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly uses replica offices — shown — to disguise his location, according to a Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty investigation that found he often pretends to be in Moscow while actually staying in Sochi by the Black Sea or at his secluded forest residence in Valdai. (East to West)

“It’s well known that he’s obsessive about his security and health — it was most obvious during COVID. Even ministers and prime ministers had to isolate himself for a week or two before meeting him. That long table with French President Emmanuel Macron shows it perfectly — Macron refused a test, and Putin agreed to meet only at a very long table because he was afraid of infection.”

He added that Putin “never comes close to the front, or anywhere Ukrainians might reach. He takes his safety seriously and avoids unnecessary risks.”