Patrushev's son received a stake in one of Russia's largest promising gold deposits amid a gold boom

Against the backdrop of a gold rush and the sale of Russian reserves, the family of one of the country's most influential security officials gains control over one of Russia's largest promising gold assets. The son of Russian Presidential Assistant Nikolai Patrushev, Andrei Patrushev, judging by SPARK data, became a co-owner of the project to develop the Tan field in Yakutia. As Kommersant reports, a structure associated with it acquired 25% of the Sakha Mining company, which owns the license to develop the site. According to Rosgeologiya, the predicted gold resources of the deposit reach 211.5 tons. If these estimates are confirmed, Tan could become one of the 15 largest gold deposits in Russia.

The former CEO of Metalloinvest, Mark Buzuk, became a partner in the project. Experts estimate the value of the asset at $150–200 million. Buzuk and Patrushev Jr. are also partners in the Arkhangelsk Commercial Sea Port.

The deal comes amid unprecedented growth in the global gold market. According to the Gold Focus 2026 study from Metals Focus, which The Insider reviewed , gold prices rose 44% in 2025, the best result since 1980. The average price of the metal reached $3,432 per troy ounce, and in January 2026 a historical maximum was recorded at $5,595.

Against the backdrop of geopolitical instability, trade conflicts and concerns about the global economy, gold is becoming the main safe haven asset for investors. Metals Focus analysts expect the average gold price to rise another 43% in 2026 to reach a record $4,920 per ounce.

Russia remains one of the key players in the global gold market. The country retained the world's second-largest gold production after China in 2025, according to Metals Focus. Production was about 345 tons versus 330 tons a year earlier.

Russian authorities are counting on further growth of the industry. The head of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Alexander Kozlov, previously stated that gold production in Russia in 2026 could reach 480–500 tons. An independent expert, in a conversation with The Insider, noted that the ministry uses the indicator of gold mining in the ground, and not the actual production of refined metal, but even taking this difference into account, the industry remains one of the fastest growing in the Russian economy.

According to the expert, in the coming years Russia can significantly increase production by launching new large projects - from Sukhoi Log to Kyuchus and Baimsky GOK. In the future, the country is able to overcome the milestone of 400 tons of gold production per year and compete with China for first place in the world.

At the same time, gold is becoming an increasingly important resource for the Russian military economy. According to the same Metals Focus study, in 2025 Russia reduced its gold reserves for the first time since 2005. According to analysts, inventories decreased by 6 tons, and in 2026 sales continued at a rate of about 7 tons per month. The report's authors attribute this to the need to finance growing military spending and the budget deficit.