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Panicked Russian oligarchs are fleeing with their superyachts to the Maldives and Seychelles as President Joe Biden warned, “We are coming for your ill-begotten gains.”
President Biden fired a warning shot at the Russian oligarchs — the richest rulers of the nation — during his State of the Union address, saying, “We are joining with our European allies to find and seize your yachts, your luxury apartments, your private jets.”
A growing number of superyachts belonging to Russian tycoons have made their way to the Indian Ocean, cruising around the Maldives and Seychelles, according to Bloomberg News.
The four biggest yachts in the Maldives right now are Russian-owned. The largest, the 459-foot Ocean Victory, belongs to steel magnate Victor Rashnikov, according to SuperyachtFan.com.
Billionaire Oleg Deripaska’s 238-foot yacht, Clio, is headed for the Maldives from Sri Lanka. No stranger to sanctions, Deripaska was among seven Russian oligarchs sanctioned in 2018 by the U.S. Treasury Department.
Vagit Alekperov, president of Russia-based Lukoil, is reportedly sailing his yacht Galactica Super Nova from Barcelona to Montenegro, according to Marine Traffic data.
The vessel reportedly features a “a 6-meter glass-bottom swimming pool with a waterfall. And a touch-and-go helipad, an elevator, and a large beach club.”
The 465-foot Nord, owned by Alexei Mordashov, another steel billionaire, is in the Seychelles after sailing from the Maldives. Russian banker Andrey Kostin’s Sea Rhapsody is heading to the island chain from Turkey.
Meanwhile Roman Abramovich, who is said to be Putin’s closest Oligarch ally, has put his London properties up for sale, and is even selling his beloved 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.”
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