Oh ship! All the superyachts seized from Russian oligarchs so far

Nine superyachts owned by Russian elites have been seized or frozen by authorities in Europe so far. Read about some of the most luxurious features on each vessel.

Around the world, superyachts owned by Russian oligarchs are being seized and impounded thanks to ongoing sanctions from Canada, the U.S. and the European Union in response to Russia‘s invasion of Ukraine.

Government authorities have said they will continue to target Russia’s super-rich, who have gained vast wealth and political power by allying with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Superyachts are often valued in the hundreds of millions and annual upkeep of the mega boats can reach up to $50 million a year.

Dennis Causier, a superyacht analyst, told The Associated Press the kinds of yachts owned by oligarchs often have comically intense security measures in place, including “underwater escape hatches, bulletproof windows and armored panic rooms.”

“It’s about ego,” Causier said. “They all want to have the best, the longest, the most valuable, the newest, the most luxurious.”

So far, Spain, Italy, France and Germany have been leading the charge in seizing superyachts, impounding a combined nine Russian-owned boats.

Some yachts have already slipped through the West’s fingers.

A superyacht called Graceful, which is believed to belong to Putin, left a port in Hamburg two weeks before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It is now moored in Russian waters in the Baltic, out of reach of the West’s sanctions.