Superyachts or luxury yachts belonging to Russian billionaires and oligarchs with ties to President Vladimir Putin are on the move as the United States and its allies prepare for further sanctions on their property following the invasion of Ukraine.
Data reviewed by CNBC from Marine Traffic shows that at least four large cruise ships belonging to Russian business leaders have moved towards Montenegro and the Maldives since various sanctions were announced in recent days by leaders from around the world, including targets for the US Treasury Department, Russia's central bank.
The Maldives does not have an extradition treaty with the US, according to Nomad Capitalist.
The properties of targeted Russian executives are likely to be hit again as the Biden administration announced the formation of a task force that will target their lucrative assets, including yachts and luxury homes.
France compiled a list of properties owned by Russian oligarchs, including cars and yachts that could be confiscated under EU sanctions.
"Next week, we will launch a multilateral Transatlantic task force to identify, hunt down and freeze the assets of sanctioned Russian companies and oligarchs for their cruise ships, their luxury homes, and any other illicit profits we can find and freeze under the law," it wrote. The White House's recent tweets.
Through it, some of Russia's richest men moved their ships to other locations in the hopes that they could avoid having the goods confiscated.
One of them is Vagit Alekperov, who is president of Russia-based Lukoil, sailing his yacht to Montenegro, according to Marine Traffic. It is expected to arrive there in the coming days from Barcelona, Spain.
Alekperov's yacht known as the Galactica Super Nova, is rumored to have a 6-meter glass-floored swimming pool with a waterfall, touch and go helipad, lift and a large beach club. Alekperov has a net worth of under $25 billion, according to Forbes.
Meanwhile, Montenegro is a member of NATO. Its foreign minister said Montenegro, which applied for EU membership in 2008 would join the European Union in its sanctions against Russia.
At least three yachts belonging to another Russian billionaire are getting closer to the Maldives, a small country located in the Indian Ocean.
The island nation has been a hotspot for tourists from Russia for years. The Maldives Tourism Minister said the Russian invasion would have a major impact on its tourism sector.
Billionaire Oleg Deripaska's cruise ship known as the Clio left Sri Lanka nearly two weeks ago and is expected to arrive in the Maldives soon, according to Marine Traffic. Deripaska and companies associated with it were sanctioned in 2018 by the United States. He is one of the few billionaires living in Russia who opposes the conflict in Ukraine.
“Peace is the priority. Negotiations should start ASAP," said Deripaska, who has an estimated net worth of around $4 billion as of Sunday on Twitter. did not respond to requests for comment.
