UNIAN has compiled a list of yachts that Russian oligarchs have lost due to the EU's "special economic operation".
Entitled Treasury Sanctions Russians Bankrolling Putin and Russia-Backed Influence Actors, the sanction has named a number of Russian elites who “continue to provide direct and indirect support to the Government of the Russian Federation (GoR) through their business empires, wealth, and other resources.â€
After Russia launched a massive invasion of Ukraine on February 24, the European Union imposed sanctions against a number of Russian oligarchs close to Vladimir Putin and supporting his policies. So, among the list of "sanctioned" names were Solovyov, Mordashov, Usmanov, and among their seized property - luxurious villas, fashionable mansions and kilometer-long yachts. UNIAN has compiled a list of yachts that Russian oligarchs have lost due to the EU's "special economic operation".
"Dilbar" owned by Alisher Usmanov
The yacht, named after Usmanov’s mother and the world’s largest by volume, had been undergoing refitting in the northern German city. Boasting a 25-meter swimming pool and two helipads, it’s valued at between $600 million and $750 million, according to the U.S. Treasury.
They have also sanctioned his business jet, number M-IABU which has an estimated value of $350-500 million. Usmanov holds significant interest in the mining, metals, telecommunications and information technology sectors, and he allegedly has close financial ties with the Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"Lady M" Alexey Mordashov
The seized Lady M superyacht, owned by Russian billionaire Alexey Mordashov, at the port in Imperia, Italy, on March 7, 2022.
Authorities in Italy seized a 215-foot superyacht called the Lady M earlier this month. It’s owned by Alexei Mordashov, Russia’s richest businessman, and is worth an estimated $27 million. The vessel, which requires a crew of 14, has six guest cabins, a pool and a gym.
In October 2021, it was reported that Mordashov was selling Lady M because he had a new 142m Nord superyacht.
One of Russia's richest billionaires, Alexei Mordashov, owns the Russian steel holding Severstal. His fortune is $ 23.1 billion, he ranks 65th in the world ranking of billionaires and third in Russia. Close to Vladimir Putin.
"Quantum Blue" by Sergei Galitsky
Built by Lurssen in 2014, Quantum Blue was designed by Tim Heywood and Alberto Pinto. She has a length of 104m, a beam of 16.8m and a draft of 4m.The yacht has zero speed stabilizers, a spa, a lift, a helipad, a spa pool, beach club, gym and movie theatre.
Quantum Blue is still one of the thirty largest yachts in the world.
Sergei Galitsky (Harutyunyan, before marriage), is the owner of the Magnit network. On February 16, 2018, he sold a 29.1% stake in his chain of retail stores to VTB.
"Valerie" owned by Sergey Chemezov
The 85m long yacht «Valerie», linked to Rostec defense firm chief Sergei Chemezov, moored in the port of Barcelona, on March 15, 2022.
The 279-foot (85 meters) vessel, with a six-deck structure and a lavish Art Deco interior, was designed by the famous Espen Oeino International and Reymond Langton. It can accommodate up to 17 guests, and some of its main features include a helipad, a luxurious spa with a hammam, and a large sundeck with a 19.6-foot (6 meters) pool. An elevator connects all the decks, and a wide range of water toys is available for its guests.
Media sources have revealed that Chemezov owns the Valerie megayacht indirectly, as one of the assets belonging to his stepdaughter, who is the formal beneficiary of an entire network of offshore companies. These assets have been estimated to add up to $400 million, with Valerie alone worth $140 million at the time of its purchase. Chemezov himself even had to face an asset freeze back in 2014, when Russia was hit with international sanctions, but after things were cleared, Valerie was spotted in several exotic locations.
"Crescent" owned by Igor Sechin
The £458 million "Crescent" vessel was docked in the port of Tarragona in Catalonia, the Spanish Transport Ministry said on Wednesday.
The 443-foot-long yacht, described by specialist publications as one of the biggest in the world, sails under a Caiman Island flag and arrived in Spain from Italy in November 2021, according to monitoring site Marine Traffic.
Sechin is considered one of the most influential figures in Russia. He has been working side by side with Vladimir Putin since the early 90s. When the future president of Russia in 1991 headed the foreign relations committee of the mayor's office of then Leningrad, Sechin was appointed head of his apparatus.
"Amore Vero" owned by Igor Sechin
France has impounded the superyacht owned by Igor Sechin, Russia’s top oil tycoon, in a night-time operation as it attempted to escape sanctions imposed this week over the Ukraine invasion.
The crew of the $120 million "Amore Vero", an 86m vessel, were rushing to cast off from a shipyard at La Ciotat, on the outskirts of Marseilles, where it was undergoing repairs, when a squad of customs officers boarded her and announced the seizure. The yacht, which includes a swimming pool that turns into a helipad, had been due to stay there until late April.
"A" Andrey Melnichenko
Italy’s finance police seized one of the world’s most iconic sailing yachts, owned by a Russian oligarch. Andrey Melnichenko’s Sailing Yacht A, with an estimated value of $578 million, was impounded in dry dock at the Port of Trieste
Melnichenko owns the major fertilizer producer EuroChem Group and SUEK, a coal company. He also owns the 390-foot Motor Yacht A. A spokesperson said in a statement that Melnichenko has nothing to do with politics and that he has removed himself from the board of Eurochem and SUEK after the EU sanctioned him.
"The Royal Romance" owned by Viktor Medvedchuk
A 92-metre-long mega yacht, The Royal Romance, owned by an Ukrainian oligarch, moored in the centre of Rijeka, Croatia.
Purchased for over 200 million US dollars, the owner is the Ukrainian oligarch and close Putin ally, Viktor Medvedchuk. Viktor Medvedchuk leads the main opposition party in Ukraine and President Putin is his daughter’s godfather.
