Russian billionaires lost more than half of their most expensive yachts due to sanctions, arrests and forced sales. Most of the fleet either passed to the new owners in the USA and Europe, or disappeared in Dubai, Turkey and Russia, but not everyone managed to completely avoid confiscation.
Rossmi write about this. If earlier Russian businessmen owned more than 70 large yachts, then as of the beginning of 2025 less than a third of them remained under their control.
Many yachts were arrested in Europe and the USA, others were sold or transported to Dubai and Turkey, which became the main harbors for Russian money. After the invasion of Ukraine, European and American law enforcement agencies began an active hunt for assets of Russian billionaires. This concerned not only bank accounts or real estate, but also luxurious yachts, often in European Marins.
Realizing that their ships can be confiscated, many Russian businessmen began to transport their yachts to countries that did not join the sanctions. Dubai and Turkiye became the main points where a significant part of the elite Russian fleet is based. The Arab Emirates moored:.
Turkiye has also become a popular shelter for expensive yachts. The world's largest 162-meter eclipse, belonging to Roman Abramovich, once stopped there. Some ships were returned to Russian waters to avoid the risk of arrest. Among them are yachts associated with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his entourage. They returned to Russia:.
The yachts associated with Dmitry Medvedev were also returned to Russia, including the " Despite all attempts to hide the assets, about a third of the Russian superhacks were arrested by Western governments.
Among the largest losses for Russian billionaires-the 140-meter Scherazade, which, according to investigators, could personally use Putin or Kremlin officials. The ship was arrested in Italy back in 2022 and since then it has been kept on jokes. In Italy, they were also detained:.
In Spain:.
In Germany, they remain under arrest:.
Great Britain also actively confiscates Russian yachts. For example, the 82-meter Alfa Nero, owned by Andrei Guryev, was arrested at Antigua and sold at auction. Since the content of yachts in the conditions of sanctions became too expensive, many Russian businessmen were forced to sell their ships, sometimes even with a significant discount.
Prices for some vessels fell by 20-30%, but yachts still quickly find new owners, including American and European businessmen. The EU and the USA continue to hunt Russian assets.
In 2024, the Netherlands customs said that she arrested 14 yachts associated with Russian businessmen. Some of them were built, others were on repair.
The UAE and Turkiye remain key hubs, where Russian assets are hidden, but it is possible that international pressure will force these countries to strengthen control over suction property. There are also special cases when yachts were transferred to Ukraine. For example, the 104-meter Royal Romance owned by Viktor Medvedchuk was confiscated in Croatia and transferred to the Ukrainian flag.