Panicked “We are coming for your ill-gotten fortunes,” President Joe Biden told Russian oligarchs fleeing to the Maldives and Seychelles with their superyachts.
During his State of the Union speech, President Biden issued a warning to Russia’s oligarchs, saying, “We are collaborating with our European friends to discover and confiscate your yachts, your luxury residences, and your private jets.”
According to Bloomberg News, a growing number of Russian tycoons’ superyachts have found their way to the Indian Ocean, cruising around the Maldives and Seychelles.
The Maldives’ four largest yachts are currently owned by Russians. According to SuperyachtFan.com, the largest, the 459-foot Ocean Victory, belongs to steel magnate Victor Rashnikov.
According to Forbes magazine, officials in Germany seized Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov’s 500-foot megayacht, the Dilbar, on Wednesday as part of a package of sanctions against the Kremlin and its supporters.
Authorities apprehended the ship on Wednesday in the northern German port of Hamburg. The megayacht is worth an estimated $600 million.
Clio, the 238-foot yacht owned by billionaire Oleg Deripaska, is on its way to the Maldives from Sri Lanka. Deripaska is no stranger to sanctions, since he was one of seven Russian oligarchs sanctioned by the US Treasury Department in 2018.
According to Marine Traffic data, Vagit Alekperov, president of Russia’s Lukoil, is sailing his yacht Galactica Super Nova from Barcelona to Montenegro.
According to reports, the ship has a “6-meter glass-bottom swimming pool with a waterfall.” There’s also a helipad with touch-and-go capability, an elevator, and a big beach club.”
After sailing from the Maldives, the 465-foot Nord, owned by Alexei Mordashov, another steel tycoon, has arrived in the Seychelles. The Sea Rhapsody, owned by Russian banker Andrey Kostin, is sailing from Turkey to the island chain.
Meanwhile, Roman Abramovich, Putin’s most ardent oligarch buddy, has listed his London properties for sale, including his cherished Chelsea Football Club.
British MP Chris Bryant said in Parliament in London on Monday, “He’s terrified of being sanctioned.”
Abramovich, who has always denied links to Putin, has even been in Belarus “helping with the talks” on behalf of the Russians.
A spokesperson for the Chelsea owner said, “I can confirm that Roman Abramovich was contacted by the Ukrainian side for support in achieving a peaceful resolution, and that he has been trying to help ever since.”
Meanwhile Abramovich’s 162.5 meter super yacht Eclipse is currently moored in St. Maarten. The boat is equipped with a military grade missile detection system, two helicopter pads and a submarine that is capable of submerging to 50 meters — sparking speculation that the yacht could be a refuge for Vladimir Putin.
One Russian source told Page Six, “Yachts generally do not have missile detection systems or anti-missile defenses. People believe it was built for Putin. That yacht will definitely be top of the list to be seized.”