Russian oligarchs have their yachts seized as part of Western sanctions against Ukraine invasion

Several Russian oligarchs have had their yachts seized as part of economic sanctions imposed by Western and other nations since the Ukraine invasion. Famed for their extreme wealth and extravagant lifestyles, the elite group has come under increasing scrutiny since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022. France said on March 3, 2022, that it had seized a superyacht owned by Igor Sechin, CEO of Russian oil giant Rosneft. The former Russian deputy prime minister is considered a ‘de facto deputy’ of Putin. Italy has also taken action against Russian oligarchs by confiscating their yachts and villas. Around 500 Russians are reportedly being targeted by European Union sanctions, including the president of the Russian pipeline company Transneft Nikolay Tokarev and bankers Mikhail Fridman and Petr Aven of Alfa-Bank.