From occupied Crimea to Oxfordshire: the Kremlin links to new £600m UK theme park
Exclusive: Puy du Fou worked with under-sanctions oligarch on plans for Crimea resort longer than disclosed, and later courted Iran and China In February 2014, thousands of “little green men” – Russian soldiers in unmarked uniforms – flooded into Crimea, seizing control of military bases and infrastructure. Their arrival marked the opening salvo of Vladimir Putin’s annexation of the peninsula, an…
In February 2014, Russian forces under the guise of "little green men" invaded Crimea, leading to Vladimir Putin's annexation of the region. This move prompted international sanctions from Washington and Brussels against Putin allies, including Konstantin Malofeyev, a controversial media mogul. Despite the sanctions, French theme park company Puy du Fou, founded by Philippe and Nicolas de Villiers, maintained a connection with Malofeyev.
In Yalta, a historic Black Sea resort, the de Villiers and Putin discussed plans for two new parks, one of which was to be built in occupied Ukrainian territory. However, the partnership was short-lived as the sanctions took effect, forcing Puy du Fou to seek new opportunities. The company is now set to open a £600 million theme park in Oxfordshire, a stark contrast to its earlier flirtation with Russian autocracy.
New documents reveal that Puy du Fou continued relations with Malofeyev's associates until August 2015, raising questions about the company's willingness to work with other autocratic regimes.
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