Putin’s goddaughter among Russia’s super-rich celebrities seen partying in Europe’s most exclusive resorts – as Ukraine war rages on

Russia’s super-rich celebrities partying in the hated West has sparked a fierce backlash at home from politicians, front-line fighters and pro-Kremlin war channels.

Photos and videos show Russian influencers and socialites skiing, drinking champagne and walking the red carpet in Courchevel, one of Europe’s most exclusive resorts, as Russia’s conflict in Ukraine continues.

Among those partying in the French Alps was Vladimir Putin’s 44-year-old “goddaughter” Ksenia Sobchak; The late father of television star, media owner and socialite Anatoly Sobchak had recruited the dictator into his political career following the Soviet collapse.

The uproar comes after luxury shoe and fashion chain Rendez-Vous sent a star-studded guest list to Courchevel to celebrate 16 years since it opened its boutique in the ski resort and its 25th anniversary.

In addition to Sobchak, guests included influencer and mother of four Oksana Samoylova, 37, who has 17 million Instagram followers, supermodel Lena Perminova, 38, who attended with her Ukrainian model boyfriend Taras Romanov, 29, and Alexander Rogov, 44, celebrity stylist and current host of Russia’s propagandist Channel One.

The influencers posed on the slopes, skied and snowboarded by day, and attended a ‘gala dinner’ at night, complete with a red carpet laid directly on the snow.

Photos show venues including La Folie Douce, Courchevel’s famous après-ski hotspot, and the upscale seafood restaurant Chalet de l’Écailler on the slopes.

The tour took place at a luxury hotel with rooms starting from €8,600 (£7,450) per night, according to pro-war conservative news outlet Tsargrad TV.

Among those partying in the French Alps was Vladimir Putin’s ‘goddaughter’ Ksenia Sobchak (pictured right)

The reaction from Russia, where Putin had previously slapped prominent figures, including Sobchak, for partying during his bloody war, was immediate and brutal.

Guests were treated to oysters, prosciutto, jamón and premium alcohol, with one dinner alone reportedly costing up to 1 million rubles (£9,700).

Entertainment around the facility is claimed to include private helicopter flights costing thousands of pounds.

Celebrities were accused of enjoying £560-per-bottle Veuve Clicquot champagne and £970-per-person meals at La Folie Douce.

The reaction from Russia, where Putin had previously slapped leading figures including Sobchak for partying during his bloody war in Ukraine, was immediate and brutal, which he believed undermined the sacrifices of his own cannon fodder troops.

Well-known socialite commentator Bozhena Rynska wrote: ‘This is not just marketing nonsense…

‘This is a challenge. This is a loud ‘Fuck you!’

He claimed that Courchevel, popular with Putin’s wealthy before the war, had now become “a symbol of sanctions evasion and public privilege”.

Guests were treated to oysters, prosciutto, jamón and premium alcohol, with one dinner alone reportedly costing up to 1 million rubles (£9,700).

Public relations expert Milena Dorokhina said Russians were outraged by ‘ostentatious luxury without regard for context’

The Appointment-Vous incident ‘disturbs everyone at once: those for the war – eating hazel grouse while children die – and those against the war…

‘This is a situation where a campaign manages to be obnoxious to everyone.’

As pro-war propagandist ‘Z-channels’ exploded with anger, REN TV, part of a media group led by 73-year-old Putin’s girlfriend Alina Kabaeva (42), quoted music producer Sergei Dvortsov as saying: ‘While our children are fighting for us, giving their lives, our stars are having fun, living in luxury with big money.

‘Their mistake was the display of wealth and luxury in times of plague.’

Public relations expert Milena Dorokhina said Russians were outraged by ‘ostentatious luxury without regard for context’.

‘When a mass-market brand showcases private jets and Courchevel, it automatically creates discomfort.’

Some videos even showed SVO fighters recording angry messages accusing celebrities of partying while soldiers were dying.

‘You show off your swagger while we shed blood,’ declared one clip.

Ukrainian rescue teams try to extinguish a burning gasoline truck following an airstrike in Kiev during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. One person was killed and 23 others were injured in overnight Russian attacks in Ukraine’s capital and the northeastern city of Kharkiv, officials said early Jan. 24, 2026.

Ukrainian emergency personnel work to extinguish a fire at an air raid site in Kiev, January 24, 2026

Firebrand State Duma deputy Vitaly Milonov called on Russians to boycott the Rendez-Vous brand, likening partying to the devil’s work.

There was also anger from Rendez-Vous employees and customers, who said bonuses were being cut while management splashed millions abroad.

One comment said: ‘Disgusting! It would have been better to send the money to the men up front.’

An employee of Rendez-Vous complained: ‘This is how you ruin a brand – expensively and spectacularly.’

Even fashion gossip outlet Tatler’s Heroine derided the show as ‘a textbook on how to make everyone hate you’.

One angry commentator said: ‘They dominate Europe by insulting it with Russian flags and champagne while ordinary people are told to tighten their belts.’

Another said: ‘These are not Russians, they are parasites.

‘Leave them there [in the West]. Lock the door from the inside.

‘The confiscated funds could keep the war going for years.’

Rendez-Vous’ marketing director Alina Mieva defended the promotional trip, saying it included private jet trips to Paris and Geneva despite Western sanctions.

He said that the company also organizes such trips to the Krasnodar region, which is close to the war zone.