In early and mid-July, private jets linked to a number of Russian billionaires and senior officials headed to the area around the Turkish resort of Bodrum. During the same period, the yacht Victoria, which has been linked to Vladimir Putin, was located nearby. Novaya Gazeta Europe drew attention to the pattern after reviewing flight-tracking data from AirNav.
On July 6, an Airbus A318-112(CJ) Elite belonging to Arkady Rotenberg arrived in Bodrum. The aircraft left the airport later that day with its transponder switched off and reappeared in Russia five days later. Since late June, a Bombardier Global 6500 tied to former agriculture minister Alexander Tkachev has also been periodically seen in Turkey. According to the outlet Mozhno Obyasnit, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov uses that jet for leisure trips. On July 7, the aircraft switched its radar signal on over Dalaman, near Bodrum.
On July 15, a Bombardier Global 6000 belonging to VEB.RF chairman Igor Shuvalov departed Bodrum; the date of its arrival is unknown, and its radar was also turned off during departure. A Sukhoi Superjet 100 used by First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov flew to Antalya in late June, returned to Russia, and then reached Bodrum on July 3. On July 12, it left Dalaman for Moscow, and on July 17 it headed back to Bodrum. On July 14, a Dassault Falcon 8X used by Tatarstan head Rustam Minnikhanov arrived in Bodrum and left the city on July 17 with its radar off.
Since late April, a Bombardier 6000 tied to VTB head Andrey Kostin has been flying to Turkey on a regular basis. It was first spotted in Bodrum on June 14 and then returned to Russia at least six times. From July 6 to July 12, the jet was again in Bodrum; during the same period, Verstka reported that Kostin’s yacht was also there. In mid-June, a Gulfstream G450 belonging to Kalashnikov co-owner Andrey Bokarev flew over Dalaman. According to the report, it also carried out flights on July 16–17 with its radar switched off.
On July 16, Verstka reported that the superyachts of at least six Russian billionaires were in southwestern Turkey: Roman Abramovich, Andrey Kostin, Vagit Alekperov, Alexander Nesis, Iskander Makhmudov, and Oleg Deripaska. Why the vessels gathered so close to one another remains unknown. Turkey has not joined sanctions against Russia and is therefore not required to detain yachts belonging to sanctioned businessmen.
As of July 16, Victoria was located near the village of Bozbuk, about 84 kilometers from Bodrum. The 71-meter vessel, estimated to be worth about $30 million, is formally owned by structures linked to Gennady Timchenko, but investigators have said it is used by people from Putin’s inner circle, including Alina Kabaeva. Victoria arrived in Turkey in late June, following the yacht Graceful, which has also been linked to Putin.