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Photos show the luxury megayachts that belong to Russian oligarchs — some of whom are targeted by sanctions

Photos show the luxury megayachts that belong to Russian oligarchs some of whom are targeted by sanctions

Taiyler Simone Mitchell

Sanctions targeting Russian oligarchs threaten their luxury assets — including their mega yachts.
Many countries have implemented sanctions targeting Putin and Russian oligarchs following Russia's attack on Ukraine.

Russian billionaires' assets — including their megayachts — are in danger of being seized as countries continue to impose sanctions on Russian oligarchs in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

US President Joe Biden announced that the US will make a substantial effort to seize Russian oligarchs' assets.

"We are joining with our European allies to find and seize your yachts, your luxury apartments, your private jets," Biden said in his State of The Union address on March 1. "We are coming for your ill-begotten gains."

Since the US is not in "armed conflict" with Russia it may be legally tricky to seize assets like yachts, Insider reported.

"The threshold for seizing assets under sanctions is that the US has to be in armed conflict with the owner of the assets," Brian O'Toole, an economic sanctions expert, tweeted last Friday. "The idea of turning Russian corruption into Ukrainian assistance is lovely but this idea is illegal, period."

It can also be difficult to find these yachts and their owners.

Offshore companies typically own the luxury vessels, but enough "public speculation" pointing to a Russian oligarch as an owner is likely "sufficient for a seizure," Insider reported.

Many of the oligarchs moved their yachts to places where they can't be seized, such as the Maldives, which does not have an extradition treaty with the US.

Insider has compiled a list of photos with mega yachts linked to Russian oligarchs.

The Amore Vero

A picture taken on March 3, 2022 in a shipyard of La Ciotat, near Marseille, southern France, shows a yacht, Amore Vero, owned by a company linked to Igor Sechin, chief executive of Russian energy giant Rosneft. NICOLAS TUCAT/AFP via Getty Images

France seized Amore Vero, a 281-foot megayacht linked to oligarch and politician Igor Sechin, on March 3.

The yacht, Amore Vero, is estimated to have a value of $120 million. It has a swimming pool that doubles as a helicopter pad and a private deck for its owner, according to Oceana, the ship maker.

Per The Wall Street Journal, officials believe that Amore Vero is "owned by a company whose majority shareholder was Mr. Sechin," though the outlet does not provide the name of the company.

Sechin is the CEO of Rosneft, Russia's oil giant, and a former deputy prime minister. A known Putin ally, he was sanctioned by both the EU and the US before France seized his yacht last Thursday.

People in Russia have referred to Sechin as "Darth Vader" and "the scariest man on Earth," according to The Guardian.

Dilbar

Southampton, England, UK, Super yacht Dilbar 15,917 tones, owned by Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov departing the Port of Southampton. Peter Titmuss/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Alisher Usmanov has been sanctioned by the EU, the US, the UK, and Switzerland. His boat remains in Germany, but the country says it hasn't seized it.

Usmanov's Dilbar is "is the largest motor yacht in the world by gross tonnage," according to Lürssen, the German ship's maker.

It's 512-foot long and weighs 15,917 tons. The ship has been docked in Germany for months undergoing a "refitting," but last week Forbes reported that it was unable to leave the dock.

Germany, however, has denied that it formally seized Dilbar.

Forbes said that "the German federal customs agency is the 'responsible enforcement authority' and would have to issue an export waiver for the yacht to leave, and that 'no yacht leaves port that is not allowed to do so.'"

Still, multiple outlets reported that Usmanov has fired the crew on the Dilbar.

The Uzbekistan-born oligarch is a supporter of Putin.

"I am proud that I know Putin, and the fact that everybody does not like him is not Putin's problem," Usmanov told Forbes in a 2010 interview.

ICE

ICE, the luxurious yacht of Russian business man Suleyman Kerimov, is anchored to Marmaris Yacht Marina in Mugla, Turkey, on October 23, 2014. Levent Kisi/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Suleyman Kerimov was sanctioned by the US, and his superyacht, ICE, is worth is an estimated $170 million USD.

He is the owner of Polyus Gold, Russia's biggest gold producer, and has a net worth of approximately $8 billion USD.

Kerimov's ship was dubbed "Superyacht of the Year" in 2006 at the World Super Yacht Awards, according to Boat International.

ICE is approximately 300 feet and has its own resident helicopter, according to Club Yacht.

Quantum Blue

This photograph taken on March 3, 2022 shows the "Quantum Blue", Russian billionaire Sergei Galitsky's yacht, docked in the port of Monaco VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images

Sergey Galitsky's ship, Quantum Blue, has an estimated value of $250 million USD and is last known to be docked in Monaco.

Galitsky is the founder of one of Russia's largest supermarket chains, Magnit.

His name is not currently on the list of sanctioned Russian oligarchs,

Nirvana

A back-side view of the 290 ft Nirvana superyacht, one of a handful of elite world cruising yachts, with its exceptional quality it is considered one of the most impressive yachts available on the market today. NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Though he also is not the target of any current sanctions, Vladimir Potanin's superyacht, Nirvana, is one of at least four ships docked in the Maldives.

Potanin is the Former First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia and was a longtime trustee for the Guggenheim museum before stepping down on March 2, according to The New York Times.

Nirvana is not Potanin's only superyacht, he also owns another named Barbara, according to Fortune.

Alexander Abramov's Titan, Alexei Mordashovis' Nord, and Oleg Deripaska's Clio are also located in the Maldives.

Eclipse

The "Eclipse" belonging to Roman Abramovich. Ali Balli/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images.

At 533 feet long, Roman Abramovich's Eclipse was the largest yacht on the globe until 2013 when the 590-foot Azzam overthrew it.

Abramovich, once Russia's richest man, is the departing owner of Chelsea FC soccer club and has not yet been subject to sanctions.

The luxury boat has a host of amenities, including two helicopter pads, a missile detection system, and a swimming pool more than 50 feet long. It also has space for up to 36 guests and 70 crew members, according to Yacht Harbour.

Insider previously reported that it is currently docked in the Caribbean.

Solaris

David Ramos/Getty Images

Another yacht named Solaris is linked to Abramovich. The vessel, worth approximately $600 million USD, left Spain Tuesday after having been under repair since late 2021, Insider reported.

Solaris is 460 feet and can host a total of 36 guests, according to SuperYachtFan.

Tango

Photo by Levent Kisi/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Tango, owned by the US-sanctioned Viktor Vekselberg, is currently located in Palma, Spain.

Tango can host up to 14 people and is 254 feet long, won the 2012 World Superyacht Awards, and has an estimated worth of $120 million, according to SuperYachtFan.

Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born businessman who owns Renova, a Russian conglomerate, according to The Guardian.

Graceful

The yacht 'Graceful' of Russian President Vladimir Putin is moored at the port of Sochi, Russia, 13 July 2015. Marcus Brandt/picture alliance via Getty Images

Graceful, a yacht reported to belong to Russian President Vladimir Putin, left Germany just before his invasion of Ukraine, Insider reported in early February.

Graceful is 270 feet long and has a saloon, gym, spa, library, and an indoor pool nearly 50 feet long that doubles as a dance floor.

Scheherazade

'Scheherazade', one of the largest superyachts in the world, anchors in Bodrum district of Mugla, Turkey on August 16, 2020. Osman Uras/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

A mystery yacht remains untouched as the owner remains a mystery.

The owner of the 459-foot Scheherazade is suspected to be a Russian billionaire, though the owner was never publically identified, The New York Times reported.

Many people believe it belongs to Vladimir Putin, nicknaming the vessel "Putin's Yacht."

Superyachtfan estimates the ship's value sits at $700 million USD.

Stella Maris

Super yacht Stella Maris moored in Venice for the Arte Biennale 2017 on May 10, 2017 in Venice, Italy. Awakening/Getty Images

Stella Maris is linked to oil and gas tycoon Rashid Sardarov. It was last seen in Nice, France, according to The Washington Post.

The luxury vessel is priced at $75 million, is 237 feet long, and can hold up to 14 guests, per SuperYachtFan.

Sardarov is not being sanctioned.

Sailing Yacht A

Ragnar Singsaas/WireImage

Sailing Yacht A is believed to belong to Andrey Melnichenko.

The ship is more than 465 feet long and can hold up to 20 guests, according to SuperYachtFan. The website says that Sailing Yacht A also features an underwater observation area and has a value of more than $500 million USD.

Melnichenko is an EU-sanctioned Russian billionaire who works in coal and fertilizers, according to Forbes. The magazine also reported that he owns a second yacht, Motor Yacht A, which is similar to a submarine.