Superyachts linked to at least six Russian billionaires are currently located off Turkey’s southern and southwestern coast, near the Victoria yacht, which investigators say is used by Vladimir Putin’s family. The outlet Verstka drew attention to the cluster.
Victoria is a 71-meter yacht worth about $30 million. Formally, it belongs to entities associated with Gennady Timchenko, but investigators say it is used by people from Putin’s inner circle, including Alina Kabaeva. As of July 16, the yacht was located near the village of Bozbük, around 84 kilometers from Bodrum.
The closest vessel to Victoria is the 55-meter Rhea, owned by Roman Abramovich; the distance between them is estimated at about 800 meters. About 30 kilometers away is Serenity & Unity, used by VTB chief Andrey Kostin. In early July, both vessels spent several days in Torba harbor roughly 500 meters apart.
Also off the southern coast of Bodrum is the 80-meter Genesis, linked to Lukoil owner Vagit Alekperov. It is now about 40 kilometers from Victoria, although until July 14 the two yachts were roughly two kilometers apart. The yacht Romea, owned by Polymetal founder Alexander Nesis, is near Selimiye, 87 kilometers from Victoria. Farther north is Predator, associated with UMMC co-owner Iskander Makhmudov, at a distance of about 64 kilometers.
In a bay near the city of Dalaman, the 73-meter superyacht Altair, owned by Oleg Deripaska, has been stationed for about a week. It is approximately 146 kilometers from Victoria. The reason these vessels are gathered relatively close to one another remains unknown.
Turkey has not joined sanctions against Russia, meaning Ankara is not required to detain yachts belonging to sanctioned businessmen. Bloomberg previously reported that several of Russia’s wealthiest individuals, including businessmen close to Putin, moved billions of dollars abroad over the past year amid worsening economic conditions, pressure on the banking sector, rising budget spending, and more frequent asset seizures. In addition, in July billionaire Andrey Melnichenko published an article in The Economist outlining his vision of Russia’s postwar future; according to the publication, the changes he described would mean an end to Putin’s one-man rule.