The Kremlin has repeatedly misled the public about Vladimir Putin’s whereabouts.
He uses three nearly identical offices in different parts of the country, reveals an investigation by Systema, the investigative unit of the Russian branch of RFE/RL (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty), funded by the US Congress.
Systema identified discrepancies in video recordings and travel logs, showing that many meetings purported to have taken place near Moscow were actually filmed in Sochi or Valdai.
It seems that Putin increasingly prefers the secluded residence in Valdai, especially with the ongoing war in Ukraine and the increasingly frequent drone attacks on Russian targets.
According to the investigation, these offices, nicknamed "beige rooms," were all reproduced identically to mislead international intelligence services. Consequently, the Russian leader, regularly filmed or photographed during video conferences, appears to always be in the same room.
However, the Kremlin chief actually moves between at least three offices: one built in Novo-Ogaryovo near Moscow, another in Sochi, and one in his Valdai residence, writes Le Figaro.
According to Radio Free Europe, the three offices have the same layout, the same furniture, the same decor, the same door handle, and the same screens. However, there are a few minor details that differ and can only be noticed by a keen eye.
Thus, the alignment of the panels on the wall is different from one office to another. The position of the thermostats is also different, as well as the alignment of the door handles. The main decorative piece on Vladimir Putin's desk reflects light differently from one room to another.
"In the office in Novo-Ogaryovo, the door handle next to Putin's desk is positioned slightly below a line that separates the wall panels on each side - a fact that is clearly evident from the images and photographs of the room, including those from the company that installed the parquet," adds RadioFreeEurope.
Systema was able to consult the travel documents of a Russian journalist who interviewed Vladimir Putin. The result was that images of his interview, broadcast by state television, were presented as being filmed in Novo-Ogaryovo, while the journalist's plane ticket shows that he traveled to Sochi.
"In an article published in August, Systema revealed that at least five Kremlin meetings that were said to have taken place in April or May were actually filmed months earlier. Putin continued this stratagem in the fall of this year: since August, the Kremlin has released at least seven old videos of the president's meetings, presenting them as new," accuses Systema.
Vladimir Putin most often hides in his Valdai residence, as it is heavily defended, especially by anti-aircraft defense positions.
According to Systema, 29 out of the 30 public appearances of the Russian president between January and September 2025 were filmed in Valdai.