Pushilin to Privatize Akhmetov's Donbass Palace
Dennis Pushilin, head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, signed a law including the Donbass Palace hotel in Donetsk—previously owned by Ukrainian businessman Rinat Akhmetov—in the 2026 privatization plan. The hotel was seized in March 2017 by separatist forces and its contents were detailed in an inventory.
Consensus
- Dennis Pushilin signed a law including the Donbass Palace in Donetsk in the 2026 privatization program of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic.
- The Donbass Palace was previously owned by structures linked to Ukrainian businessman Rinat Akhmetov.
- The hotel was seized by representatives of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic in March 2017.
- The law adds a new section to the February-adopted privatization program, listing property to be privatized by year-end.
- The inventory includes hundreds of chairs, sofas, minibars, mirrors, paintings, display cases, and restaurant and hotel equipment.
- Some items are explicitly labeled as belonging to the Donbass Palace, such as four grills marked 'Hotel Donbass Palace'.
- The Donbass Palace was part of the ESTA group's hospitality business, which managed SCM real estate owned by Rinat Akhmetov.
- A similar process occurred with Akhmetov’s property in annexed Crimea, where the 'New Kuchuk-Koy' estate was nationalized and later sold to a Gazprom-linked company.
Coverage (2 sources)
- «Head» of Donetsk region Pushilin privatizes seized from Ukrainian businessman Ahmetov Donbass Palace. In Crimea his... — Радио Свобода
- «Head» of Donetsk region Pushilin privatizes seized from Ukrainian businessman Ahmetov Donbass Palace. In Crimea his... — The Insider