Investigation reveals Putin uses multiple matching offices in different locations to conceal whereabouts

Vladimir Putin uses three identical offices in different Russian locations to hide his whereabouts, according to a new RFE/RL investigation analyzing over 700 videos.

Efrat Lachter is an investigative reporter and war correspondent. Her work has taken her to 40 countries, including Ukraine, Russia, Iraq, Syria, Sudan and Afghanistan. She is a recipient of the 2024 Knight-Wallace Fellowship for Journalism. Lachter can be followed on X @efratlachter.

Independent sociologist Konstantin Gaaze told RFE/RL that Putin’s current pattern of secret locations and information control "most resembles Saddam Hussein’s," citing the creation of multiple identical rooms and hidden residences. Analysts noted that Valdai’s dense forest and isolation make it easier to protect with Pantsir-M air-defense systems than the Kremlin or Moscow suburbs.