UK says it's blocked some yachts from leaving Britain over suspected links to Russian oligarchs and turned away 10 ships with ties to Russia

• The UK has detained some yachts over suspected links to oligarchs, the transport secretary said.
• It's also turned away 10 ships linked to Russia, Grant Shapps added Thursday.

The UK government has blocked some yachts from leaving the country over suspected links to oligarchs, and turned away 10 ships tied to Russia, according to the transport secretary.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, the West has imposed massive sanctions on Russia, aimed at hobbling its economy and putting pressure on President Vladimir Putin to call off the war.

The measures include sanctions targeted at Russian elites and oligarchs, permitting freezing of their assets. In some cases, the sanctions have limited their travel and access to their superyachts and private jets, the most high-profile displays of their wealth.

"I can now confirm that we are investigating a small number of yachts moored in this country, which we also suspect are linked to Russian oligarchs," Grant Shapps, the secretary of state for transport, told UK lawmakers in the House of Commons Thursday. "I have taken steps to ensure that they are unable to depart, and investigations are ongoing."

The West has seized some luxury yachts belonging to sanctioned wealthy Russian oligarchs. Italy seized a $578 million megayacht belonging to Andrey Melnichenko, France seized a $120 million vessel owned by Igor Sechin, and Spain seized a $153 million superyacht linked to Sergei Chemezov.

In late February, the UK banned all Russian airlines from entering its airspace. It followed this up with a port ban on Russian ships on March 1 and gave authorities the power to detain Russian vessels.

"I can reveal that 10 Russian-linked ships have been turned away or redirected on their course, and eight ships or their companies have severed their Russian ties," Shapps told the Commons Thursday.

He said that the actions formed part of efforts to "clamp down on Russian interests in the UK."

A loophole in the legislation means that ships carrying Russian gas and oil have been allowed to dock in the UK, but earlier this month port workers refused to unload a German-flagged ship carrying Russian oil, Insider reported.