Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a fleet of superyachts owned by Russian oligarchs are racing for safe havens, a desperate flight that comes under unprecedented global pressure to seize and squeeze owners’ assets.
Russians own up to ten percent of the world’s mega-yacht fleet. The elite enjoys pompous showboats with extravagant amenities straight out of a James Bond film, such as submarines, helicopter hangars, underwater viewing decks, and anti-paparazzi technology to prevent passengers from being photographed.
One of these vessels has been seized by France, while two more are being held by Italian authorities, and the status of a third Russian superyacht in Germany is being debated. On Wednesday, Congressman Don Young (R-Alaska) presented the Bringing Oligarch Accountability Through Seizure (BOATS) Act, which targets Russian superyachts explicitly.
Many of the magnificent ships are hidden in or on their way to the Maldives, which has no extradition treaty with the United States. Russian yachts are frequently seen in the Seychelles, which has long been regarded as an international tax haven for the wealthy.
He is reported to have a net worth of $200 billion, making him the world’s wealthiest man.
Kaliningrad, Russia, is the last known location.
The dance floor unfolds to show a 50-foot-long indoor pool as part of the amenities.
Graceful sneaked away from Hamburg, Germany for Russia on the eve of the Ukraine invasion, tipping Putin’s strategic hand. His luxury cruiser was designed in London, and the vessel’s maritime signal was purportedly hacked recently, with the name FCKPTN being modified.
