‘Putin’s superyacht’ abruptly left Germany amid sanctions warnings over Ukraine, reports say
- US$100 million yacht ‘Graceful’ left Hamburg before finishing repairs, German media reported
- It is speculated vessel made an abrupt exit to avoid Western sanctions should Russia invade Ukraine
A yacht named “Graceful” and said to belong to Russian President Vladimir Putin left port in Hamburg abruptly before finishing repairs, according to reports from German media.
It is unclear what prompted the move, but the US$100 million yacht’s relocation from German waters to Kaliningrad, part of Russian territory, comes amid fears the West would impose sanctions if Russia were to invade Ukraine.
Although Moscow has continuously denied any plans to invade its neighbour, it has gathered over 100,000 troops at positions all around Ukraine and has even sent six assault ships into the Black Sea, moving more combat power towards the former Soviet territory.
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Russian oligarchs have their yachts seized as part of Western sanctions against Ukraine invasion
The US and UK have warned of sanctions on Russian elites, and President Joe Biden has threatened to sanction Putin personally should Russia decide to attack Ukraine. He has also deployed troops to eastern Europe to support Nato and has put thousands of US troops on “heightened alert” as tensions rise.
Some have speculated that sanctions could potentially target certain luxury assets. The yacht Graceful was spotted on a public maritime traffic tracking site sailing for Kaliningrad.
Graceful arrived in Hamburg, Germany in 2021, where the superyacht has been receiving several modifications, including two forward balconies and an extension to the swimming platform, Boat International reported.
