Spanish National Police Raid Luxury Mallorca Estates Linked to Sanctioned CEO of Russian Helicopters Nikolai Kolesov

Spanish authorities raid luxury villas in Mallorca linked to sanctioned Russian Helicopters CEO Nikolai Kolesov as part of a $180M asset investigation.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 10, 2026, 8:49 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from El País

Coordinated Raids on Prestigious Mediterranean Estates

The Spanish National Police conducted a high-stakes operation on Monday, targeting at least two luxury mansions in Mallorca tied to the family of Nikolai Kolesov. Dozens of officers descended upon the Cala Vellines and Sol de Mallorca areas within the municipality of Calvià to execute search warrants and seize evidence. Kolesov, who serves as the CEO of Russian Helicopters, is a key figure in the Russian defense industry and is widely recognized as a close associate of President Vladimir Putin. These raids represent a significant escalation in Spain's efforts to enforce European Union sanctions against high-ranking Russian officials involved in the military-industrial complex.

Assets Registered Under Minor Children and Relatives

A central focus of the Spanish investigation is the complex web of ownership used to shield these properties from international scrutiny. Investigative reports indicate that several of the Mallorca villas are registered in the names of Kolesov’s young children, four-year-old Alexei and daughter Nicole, as well as his 70-year-old sister, Anna. According to police sources cited by El País, many of these assets were previously associated with Russian defense firms directly connected to Kolesov’s professional activities. By placing multi-million dollar real estate in the names of family members, the CEO allegedly sought to bypass the financial restrictions imposed by the European Union following his blacklisting in December 2024.

Anti-Corruption Foundation Triggers International Inquiry

The momentum for these police actions grew significantly following an extensive report published by the Anti-Corruption Foundation (ACF) last summer. The foundation's investigation detailed at least five distinct properties on the island of Mallorca linked to the Kolesov family. The ACF has been instrumental in mapping the foreign holdings of the Russian elite, providing Western law enforcement agencies with the digital and financial trails necessary to freeze assets. In this case, the foundation estimated that the total value of the Kolesov family's global holdings—including real estate and private aircraft—reached approximately 14 billion rubles, or roughly $180 million.