Properties Linked to Nikolai Kolesov's Family Searched
Spanish police have conducted raids on two luxury villas in Mallorca. The properties are suspected to belong to family members of Nikolai Kolesov, the CEO of the Russian Helicopters holding company. Investigators believe the real estate, registered in the names of minor children and other relatives, was used to launder money. Kolesov is suspected of owning at least five properties on the island.
The searches took place at a villa in the Cala Viñas area and a residence in the Sol de Mallorca complex, both located in the Calvià municipality in southern Mallorca. According to the investigation, these assets served as a tool to legitimize millions of euros funneled out of Russia through a network of shell companies. The total estimated value of the Kolesov family's property portfolio is 14 billion rubles.
Sanctions and Political Background
Nikolai Kolesov is under individual sanctions from Ukraine and the European Union for supporting actions that undermine Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence. In June 2025, the Anti-Corruption Foundation published an investigation into his family's foreign assets.
Kolesov has a political past, having served as a deputy in the State Council of Russia's Republic of Tatarstan. He was appointed governor of the Amur Oblast in 2007, resigning a year later. He then became CEO of Kret, a company specializing in electronic warfare systems and a subsidiary of Rostec. Since 2019, he has chaired the board of directors at JSC 'Elecon Plant', and in 2021, he assumed the role of CEO at JSC 'Russian Helicopters'. This state-owned enterprise is a key part of Russia's military-industrial complex.
“These two properties, along with a third, were likely purchased in 2024 by Kolesov's four-year-old son. Of the other two properties on the island, one is registered in the name of another young daughter, and the other in the name of the magnate's seventy-year-old sister.” - El Pais
This case highlights significant issues related to money laundering and the use of real estate to conceal illicit assets. The actions by Spanish authorities reflect ongoing international efforts to combat corruption and enforce sanctions against Russian businessmen and officials. The investigation into Kolesov could become a crucial step in uncovering and disrupting illegal financial schemes linked to Russian elites.