russian yacht in national city

Who's Paying for Russian Oligarch's Seized Yacht in San Diego Bay?

The amadea, which superyachttimes.com called the 63rd largest yacht in the world, tied up monday at naval base san diego, in national city, by eric s. page and mari payton • published june 28, 2022 • updated on june 28, 2022 at 2:11 pm.

Many San Diegans who saw the news about the Amadea — the $325 million seized Russian oligarch's yacht that docked in San Diego on Monday — may be wondering: Who's paying for that?

Imagine how much the fuel costs to sail it more than 5,000 miles from Fiji, where it was seized earlier this month, to San Diego? A local marine fuel dock quoted the following prices, if you're wondering: $7.40 for gas, $7.35 for diesel. According to SuperYachtTimes.com, the Amadea has a 392,000-liter fuel tank. That works out to about 103,555 gallons, so it could cost $766,307 or so just to fill up.

And then there are maintence costs on a 350-foot long yacht, which, you can be sure, are extensive and necessary — in fact, not undertaking such efforts can cause the vessel's value to decline if it deteriotes due to neglect.

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The Amadea carries a full complement of 36 crew, including the captain, according to SuperYachtTimes, but it won't need nearly that many once she tied up at Naval Base San Diego in National City. Nevertheless, someone will be monitoring the yacht and conducting the maintenance.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the yacht was bought with what it calls "dirty money," and, as such, some may be relieved to hear, will be sold to the highest bidder. Presumably, the associated post-seizure costs accrued after its seizure will be coming off the top of the sale price. Until then, the Amadea, which SuperYachtTimes called the 63rd larges yacht in the world, will resume in the custody of the U.S.

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Officials with the DOJ said the Amadea, which was seized in connection to the department's KleptoCapture campaign undertaken in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, was owned by Suleiman Kerimov a Russian billionaire.

After the yacht arrived in San Diego, John Kirby, a former federal prosecutor, told NBC 7 that he thinks the U.S. government hopes moves like the Amadea's seizure are efforts to apply pressure to Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Earlier this month, Deputy U.S. Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco said, regarding the Amadea, “The department had its eyes on every yacht purchased with dirty money. This yacht seizure should tell every corrupt Russian oligarch that they cannot hide — not even in the remotest part of the world. We will use every means of enforcing the sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war in Ukraine.”

The court ruling represented a significant victory for the U.S. as it encounters obstacles in its attempts to seize the assets of Russian oligarchs around the world. While those efforts are welcomed by many who oppose the war in Ukraine, some actions have tested the limits of American jurisdiction abroad.

The United States wasted no time in taking command of the after a Fiji court ruled in its favor and sailed the ship away from the South Pacific nation just hours after the ruling.

"If you could say or somehow prove that this boat … that the oligarch had the money for this boat because he bribed Vladimir Putin, that is public corruption," Kirby said. "It’s a crime even when it takes place outside the United States. The United States can still act upon it."

According the website, the Amadea is not currently for sale, but that may soon change. Until then, you can "shop" for other eye-popping, wallet-busting boats here .

The Associated Press contributed to this report — Ed.

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Superyacht seized by U.S. from Russian billionaire arrives in San Diego Bay

June 27, 2022 / 3:40 PM EDT / CBS/AP

A $325 million superyacht seized by the United States from a sanctioned Russian oligarch arrived in San Diego Bay on Monday.

The 348-foot-long (106-meter-long) Amadea flew an American flag as it sailed past the retired aircraft carrier USS Midway and under the Coronado Bridge.

"After a transpacific journey of over 5,000 miles (8,047 kilometers), the Amadea has safely docked in a port within the United States, and will remain in the custody of the U.S. government, pending its anticipated forfeiture and sale," the Department of Justice said in a statement.

The FBI linked the Amadea to the Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov, and the vessel became a target of Task Force KleptoCapture, launched in March to seize the assets of Russian oligarchs to put pressure on Russia to end the war in Ukraine. The U.S. said Kerimov secretly bought the vessel last year through various shell companies.

But Justice Department  officials had been stymied  by a legal effort to contest the American seizure warrant and by a yacht crew that refused to sail for the U.S. American officials won a legal battle in Fiji to take the Cayman Islands-flagged superyacht earlier this month. 

The Amadea made a stop in Honolulu Harbor en route to the U.S. mainland. The Amadea boasts  luxury features  such as a helipad, mosaic-tiled pool, lobster tank and a pizza oven, nestled in a décor of "delicate marble and stones" and "precious woods and delicate silk fabrics," according to court documents.

"The successful seizure and transport of Amadea would not have been possible without extraordinary cooperation from our foreign partners in the global effort to enforce U.S. sanctions imposed in response to Russia's unprovoked and unjustified war in Ukraine," the Justice Department said.

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Federal government moves to confiscate mega yacht seized from alleged Russian oligarch

NATIONAL CITY, Calif. (KGTV) — After letting a mega yacht seized from an alleged Russian oligarch sit in San Diego bay for nearly 18 months, the federal government is now beginning the process of trying to officially confiscate it.

The Amadea was seized in Fiji and arrived in San Diego in June of 2022. According to court documents obtained by ABC 10News, federal prosecutors allege that the yacht is owned by Suleiman Kerimov, a Russian billionaire who was sanctioned following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Kerimov had the ship custom-built at a reported cost of $300 million dollars. It's considered one of the most lavish mega yachts in the world. "Even in our jaded industry, the yacht behind me is a superstar," said yacht expert Todd Roberts, President of Marine Group Boat Works, a ship yard in Chula Vista that works on mega yachts, though not contracted to work on the Amadea.

While the government may hope to win the case to confiscate the yacht and sell it, that may be a tricky proposition. “Nobody really wants international law to be designed in a way where countries can just sort of seize other country’s assets and actually confiscate them," explained University of San Diego law professor Craig Barkacs.

He says it is not legally clear that the United States has the right to confiscate the ship, even after seizing it. There are a number of United States and international laws that could be at play. He points out that the seizure of the ship for violating sanctions is more of a political decision than a legal one.

Even the ownership of Amadea by Kerimov is being challenged, with a counter lawsuit filed on behalf of another man who claims to be owner of the yacht. Barkacs says the court battle could last a long time. “The answer to your question is, I don’t want to sound too cynical here, but 'in perpetuity' comes to mind.”

Meanwhile, the government is stuck with the ship. Roberts says it must be maintained because letting it rot would lead to leaks and environmental damage to the bay. He estimates the cost of paying for fuel to power the generators, plus maintenance, and the salaries of the 20-30 person crew living full-time on the yacht to be between $4-6 million annually.

If it wins in court, the government could sell Amadea to recoup its money. But for now, it will remain parked in its spot next to Pepper Park.

“If the boat’s going to sit anywhere, it’s great that it’s here in San Diego," Roberts said.

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Superyacht feds say was seized from Russian oligarch sails into San Diego

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A $300-million superyacht the U.S. seized from an alleged Russian oligarch in Fiji last month sailed into San Diego Bay on Monday morning.

Known as the Amadea, it is 348 feet long and features a helipad and swimming pool. The Department of Justice says it was owned by Suleiman Kerimov, a gold investor Forbes says is worth $14.5 billion .

It’s not clear how long the seized boat will stay in San Diego. Justice officials said the plan is to eventually sell it off.

“The successful seizure and transport of Amadea would not have been possible without extraordinary cooperation from our foreign partners in the global effort to enforce U.S. sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war in Ukraine,” the Department of Justice said in a statement Monday.

The U.S. sanctioned Kerimov, who was accused of money laundering related to the purchase of French villas, in 2018. The European Union sanctioned him in March 2022, the Associated Press reported.

That same month, the Department of Justice created Task Force KleptoCapture to enforce the sanctions the U.S. and its foreign allies imposed after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Two months later, on May 5, the Department of Justice announced it had seized the Amadea in Fiji. “Today’s action should make clear that there is no hiding place for the assets of individuals who violate U.S. law,” Atty. Gen. Merrick Garland said that day.

After winning a court battle in Fiji — there was a dispute over the yacht’s actual owner — the U.S. sailed the ship from the South Pacific island on June 7 .

The superyacht stopped in Hawaii last week before heading into San Diego, sailing under the San Diego-Coronado Bridge on its way to its berth Monday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Russian superyacht seized by US arrives in San Diego Bay

The super yacht Amadea passes San Diego as it comes into the San Diego Bay Monday, June 27, 2022, seen from Coronado, Calif. The $325 million superyacht seized by the United States from a sanctioned Russian oligarch arrived in San Diego Bay on Monday. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

The super yacht Amadea passes the USS Midway Museum as it comes into the San Diego Bay Monday, June 27, 2022, seen from Coronado, Calif. The $325 million superyacht seized by the United States from a sanctioned Russian oligarch arrived in San Diego Bay on Monday. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

People look on from the super yacht Amadea as it arrives to the San Diego Bay Monday, June 27, 2022, seen from Coronado, Calif. The $325 million superyacht seized by the United States from a sanctioned Russian oligarch arrived in San Diego Bay on Monday. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

People stand on the deck of the super yacht Amadea as it is escorted by a Coast Guard vessel in the San Diego Bay Monday, June 27, 2022, seen from Coronado, Calif. The $325 million superyacht seized by the United States from a sanctioned Russian oligarch arrived in San Diego Bay on Monday. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

The super yacht Amadea sails into the San Diego Bay Monday, June 27, 2022, seen from Coronado, Calif. The $325 million superyacht seized by the United States from a sanctioned Russian oligarch arrived in San Diego Bay on Monday.(AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

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SAN DIEGO (AP) — A $325 million superyacht seized by the United States from a sanctioned Russian oligarch arrived in San Diego Bay on Monday.

The 348-foot-long (106-meter-long) Amadea flew an American flag as it sailed past the retired aircraft carrier USS Midway and under the Coronado Bridge.

The Department of Justice said the Amadea was safely docked after a transpacific journey of over 5,000 miles (8,047 kilometers) “and will remain in the custody of the U.S. government, pending its anticipated forfeiture and sale.”

The FBI linked the Amadea to the Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov, and the vessel became a target of Task Force KleptoCapture, launched in March to seize the assets of Russian oligarchs to put pressure on Russia to end the war in Ukraine.

The U.S. said Kerimov secretly bought the vessel last year through various shell companies.

The U.S. won a legal battle in Fiji to take the Cayman Islands-flagged superyacht earlier this month. The Amadea made a stop in Honolulu Harbor en route to the U.S. mainland.

“The successful seizure and transport of Amadea would not have been possible without extraordinary cooperation from our foreign partners in the global effort to enforce U.S. sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war in Ukraine,” the Justice Department said.

Superyacht feds say was seized from Russian oligarch sails into San Diego

The U.S. took control of the 348-foot boat in Fiji on May 5

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A $300 million superyacht the U.S. seized from a Russian oligarch in Fiji last month sailed into San Diego Bay on Monday morning.

Known as the Amadea, it is 348-feet long, and features a helipad and a swimming pool. The U.S. Department of Justice says it was owned by Suleiman Kerimov, a gold investor Forbes says is worth $14.5 billion .

It’s not clear how long the seized boat will stay in San Diego. Justice Department officials said the plan is to eventually sell it off.

“The successful seizure and transport of Amadea would not have been possible without extraordinary cooperation from our foreign partners in the global effort to enforce U.S. sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war in Ukraine,” the Department of Justice said in a statement Monday.

The U.S. sanctioned Kerimov in 2018, who was accused of money laundering related to the purchase of French villas. The European Union sanctioned him in March 2022, the Associated Press reported.

That same month, the Department of Justice created Task Force KleptoCapture to enforce the sanctions the U.S. and its foreign allies imposed after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Two months later, on May 5, the Department of Justice announced it had seized the Amadea in Fiji. “Today’s action should make clear that there is no hiding place for the assets of individuals who violate U.S. law,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said that day.

After winning a court battle in Fiji — there was a dispute over the yacht’s actual owner — the U.S. sailed the ship from the South Pacific island on June 7 .

The superyacht stopped in Hawaii last week before heading into San Diego, sailing under the San-Diego-Coronado Bridge on its way to its berth Monday.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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Money Report

Russian oligarch's yacht is costing US taxpayers close to $1 million a month

By robert frank,cnbc • published march 6, 2024 • updated on march 6, 2024 at 11:26 pm.

A mega-yacht seized by U.S. authorities from a Russian oligarch is costing the government nearly $1 million a month to maintain, according to new court filings.

• The Justice Department is seeking permission to sell Amadea, which it seized in 2022, alleging that it was owned by sanctioned Russian billionaire Suleiman Kerimov.
• Attorneys for Eduard Khudainatov, an ex-Rosneft CEO who has not been sanctioned, say he owns the yacht, and have sought to take back possession of the vessel.

The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking permission to sell a 348-foot yacht called Amadea, which it seized in 2022, alleging that it was owned by sanctioned Russian billionaire Suleiman Kerimov. The government said it wants to sell the $230 million yacht due to the "excessive costs" of maintenance and crew, which it said could total $922,000 a month.

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"It is excessive for taxpayers to pay nearly a million dollars per month to maintain the Amadea when these expenses could be reduced to zero through [a] sale," according to a court filing by U.S. prosecutors on Friday.

The monthly charges for Amadea, which is now docked in San Diego, California, include $600,000 per month in running costs: $360,000 for the crew; $75,000 for fuel; and $165,000 for maintenance, waste removal, food and other expenses. They also include $144,000 in monthly pro-rata insurance costs and special charges including dry-docking fees, at $178,000, bringing the total to $922,000, according to the filings.

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The battle over Amadea and the costs to the government highlight the financial and legal challenges of seizing and selling assets owned by Russian oligarchs after the country's invasion of Ukraine. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said last week that the European Union should use profits from more than $200 billion of frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine's war effort.

Her comments echoed government calls in the spring of 2022 to freeze the yachts, private jets and mansions of Russian billionaires in hopes of putting pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin and raising money for the war effort.

Yet, nearly two years later, the legal process for proving ownership of the Russian assets and selling them has proven to be far more time-consuming and costly. In London, Russian billionaire Eugene Shvidler has waged a court battle over his private jets that were impounded, and Sergei Naumenko has been appealing the detention of his superyacht Phi.

The battle over Amadea began in April 2022, when it was seized in Fiji at the request of the U.S. government, according to the court filings.

Though the U.S. alleges that the yacht is owned by Kerimov, who made his fortune in mining, attorneys for Eduard Khudainatov, an ex-Rosneft CEO who has not been sanctioned, say he owns the yacht, and have sought to take back possession of the vessel.

In court filings, Khudainatov's attorneys have objected to the U.S. government's efforts to sell the yacht, saying a rushed sale could lead to a distressed sale price and that the maintenance costs are minor relative to the potential sale value.

Khudainatov's attorneys refuse to pay the ongoing maintenance costs as long as the government pursues a sale and forfeiture. However, they say their client will reimburse the U.S. government for the more than $20 million already spent to maintain the yacht if it's returned to its proper owner.

In court papers, the government says Kerimov disguised his ownership of Amadea through a series of shell companies and other owners. They say emails between crew members show Kerimov "was the beneficial owner of the yacht, irrespective of the titleholder of the vessel."

The emails show that Kerimov and his family ordered several interior improvements of the yacht, including a new pizza oven and spa, and that between 2021 and 2022, when the boat was seized, "there were no guest trips on the Amadea that did not include either Kerimov or his family members," according to the court filings.

The government also says Kerimov has been trying to sell Amadea for years, so a sale would be in keeping with his intent.

"This is not a situation in which a court would be ordering sale of a precious heirloom that a claimant desperately wishes to keep for sentimental reasons," the government said in filings.

Even if Amadea were sold quickly, the proceeds wouldn't automatically go to the government. Under law, the money would be held while Khudainatov and the government continue their battle in court over the ownership and forfeiture. Don't miss these stories from CNBC PRO:

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National Security

A russian oligarch's $90 million yacht is seized as part of u.s. sanctions.

A Civil Guard stands by the yacht called Tango in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, on Monday. U.S. federal agents and Spain's Civil Guard are searching the yacht owned by a Russian oligarch. Francisco Ubilla/AP hide caption

A Civil Guard stands by the yacht called Tango in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, on Monday. U.S. federal agents and Spain's Civil Guard are searching the yacht owned by a Russian oligarch.

Spanish officials have seized a Russian-owned luxury yacht in Mallorca at the request of the U.S. Department of Justice. It was the first coordinated seizure under the department's Task Force KleptoCapture, which is tasked with enforcing the sweeping sanctions placed on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine.

The $90 million 255-foot yacht, named Tango, is owned by sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who heads the Renova Group, a Russian conglomerate with interests in metallurgy, machinery, energy, telecommunications as well as others.

"Today marks our taskforce's first seizure of an asset belonging to a sanctioned individual with close ties to the Russian regime. It will not be the last," said Attorney General Merrick Garland in a statement. "Together, with our international partners, we will do everything possible to hold accountable any individual whose criminal acts enable the Russian government to continue its unjust war."

The seizure was performed by Spanish Guardia Civil officers with assistance from the FBI.

U.S. officials allege that the Tango has been owned continuously by Vekselberg since 2011 and that he used shell companies to " obfuscate his interest in the Tango ," the Justice Department said in a press release.

The release cites alleges bank fraud and money laundering as justification for the seizure, highlighting U.S. bank payments for support and maintenance of the vessel — including a December 2020 stay at a luxury water villa resort in the Maldives.

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U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Yacht Company That Caters to Russian Elites

The Treasury Department also identified four yachts as being linked to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.

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By Julian E. Barnes and Michael Forsythe

• June 2, 2022

WASHINGTON — The U.S. government leveled sanctions against a yacht management company and its owners, describing them as part of a corrupt system that allows Russian elites and President Vladimir V. Putin to enrich themselves, the Treasury Department announced on Thursday.

Imperial Yachts, which is based in Monaco and controlled by the Moscow-born Evgeniy Kochman, caters to Russian oligarchs. The Treasury Department said Mr. Kochman and his company provide yacht-related services to “Russia’s elites, including those in President Putin’s inner circle.” Imperial Yachts, the department said , conducts business with at least one person subject to sanctions.

The Treasury Department also identified four yachts linked to Mr. Putin: the Shellest, the Nega, the Graceful and the Olympia. The department said Mr. Putin used the Nega for travel in Russia’s north, and the Shellest periodically travels to his Black Sea palace. The department said Mr. Putin has taken numerous trips in the Black Sea on the Graceful and the Olympia.

The Treasury action did not name the 459-foot Scheherazade , an Imperial Yachts-associated ship that U.S. intelligence officials say could have been built for Mr. Putin’s use.

“Russia’s elites, up to and including President Putin, rely on complex support networks to hide, move and maintain their wealth and luxury assets,” said Brian Nelson, the under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence at the Treasury Department.

“We will continue to enforce our sanctions and expose the corrupt systems by which President Putin and his elites enrich themselves,” he added.

The department also announced sanctions against four Russian government officials and Yury Slyusar, the president of a Russian state-owned company that supplies aircraft to Russia’s military.

The State Department separately imposed sanctions on Maria Zakharova, the spokeswoman for the Russian minister of foreign affairs, and Alexei Mordashov, a Russian billionaire. The Commerce Department announced that it was adding 71 organizations to its entity list, in an attempt to block Russia’s military from importing key technology.

Also put under sanctions was Sergei Roldugin, a Russian cellist and a longtime friend of Mr. Putin, described by the Treasury Department as “a custodian of President Putin’s offshore wealth.” Mr. Roldugin was added to the European Union’s sanctions list in late February, days after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He has been described as “ Putin’s wallet. ”

Mr. Kochman and Imperial Yachts were the focus of a New York Times investigation showing that the company was at the heart of what is essentially an oligarch-industrial complex, a network of companies including German shipbuilders, French designers, high-end Italian carpenters and Spanish marinas that serve Russian oligarchs and employ thousands of skilled workers.

According to a U.S. intelligence assessment, a group of investors led by one of Russia’s richest men, Gennady Timchenko, who has been under sanctions since 2014, provided the money to buy three ships: the Scheherazade, the Crescent and the Amadea, whose construction at a German shipyard was overseen by Imperial Yachts. Their combined cost of as much as $1.6 billion could have bought six new frigates for the Russian navy.

In addition to Imperial Yachts, the Treasury Department issued sanctions against four other companies owned or controlled by Mr. Kochman. Those include OOO Bilding Management, which is known as BLD Management, a company that builds and renovates villas in Russia as well as in Western Europe for oligarchs.

A lawyer for Imperial Yachts, Simon Clark, previously denied that the company had any connection to Mr. Timchenko.

In a statement released Thursday after the Treasury Department announcement, Imperial Yachts said the “accusations made against us by the U.S. government and in the press are false.”

“Imperial Yachts conducts all its business in full compliance with laws and regulations in all jurisdictions in which we operate,” the company added. “We are not involved in our clients’ financial affairs.”

But Treasury officials disputed that contention in their announcement. U.S. and international authorities have moved to seize the three yachts connected to Mr. Kochman and his company. U.S. officials are fighting a court battle in Fiji to take control of the Amadea, which they contend was sold last year to Suleiman Kerimov, a Russian oligarch who is on a U.S. sanctions list. Feizal Haniff, a lawyer for the British Virgin Islands company that controls the Amadea, said the owner is Eduard Khudainatov, who is not under any sanctions.

Mr. Khudainatov is a protégé of Igor Sechin, the chief executive of the state-controlled oil company Rosneft and a close ally of Mr. Putin.

Mr. Khudainatov is also the owner — on paper — of the Scheherazade, according to documents the United States submitted to a Fiji court. The United States contends that he is a “straw owner” of the two vessels.

Last month Italy impounded the Scheherazade , after it appeared to be readying to set sail from the port of Marina di Carrara, on the northern coast of Tuscany. In March, Spain seized the Crescent in the port of Tarragona. Spanish police told Reuters that the superyacht is believed to belong to Mr. Sechin.

The United States added the Flying Fox, another yacht managed by Imperial Yachts, to its sanctions list. The 446-foot vessel is the world’s biggest yacht available for charter , at 3 million euros ($3.2 million) a week, according to Imperial’s website. Last year, Jay-Z and Beyoncé vacationed on the yacht.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and other American officials are helping lead an international effort to seize the assets of Russians who have acted as enablers of the Kremlin and its invasion of Ukraine.

In an interview Tuesday, before the new sanctions were announced, Elizabeth Rosenberg, the assistant secretary for terrorist financing and financial crimes at the Treasury Department, said that international cooperation to go after Russian oligarchs and their assets was increasing.

“It feels like we’re experiencing a sea change right now,” Ms. Rosenberg said. “It’s a huge leap forward on international cooperation for hunting assets, for freezing them and for pursuing law enforcement investigations and activity, including seizure activities.”

Treasury officials say taking action against oligarchs and the companies that help them spend their wealth will ultimately hurt the Russian government’s ability to wage war against Ukraine.

“Suddenly some of these secrecy jurisdictions around the world are no longer so secret for Russian ultrahigh-net-worth individuals to hide and move their money,” Ms. Rosenberg said. “It will constrain Russia’s ability to make money to support their war effort.”

Julian E. Barnes is a national security reporter based in Washington, covering the intelligence agencies. Before joining The Times in 2018, he wrote about security matters for The Wall Street Journal. More about Julian E. Barnes

Michael Forsythe is a reporter on the investigations team. He was previously a correspondent in Hong Kong, covering the intersection of money and politics in China. He has also worked at Bloomberg News and is a United States Navy veteran. More about Michael Forsythe

Our Coverage of the War in Ukraine

News and Analysis

Russian missiles streaked into Kyiv  in the biggest assault on the Ukrainian capital in weeks, injuring several people and damaging several buildings.

Jake Sullivan, President Biden’s top national security official, made a secret trip to Kyiv to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky and reaffirm the United States’ unwavering commitment to Ukraine.

Under pressure to come up with billions of dollars to support Ukraine’s military, the E.U. said that it had devised a legal way to use frozen Russian assets  to help arm Ukraine.

Symbolism or Strategy?: Ukrainians say that defending places with little strategic value is worth the cost in casualties and weapons , because the attacking Russians pay an even higher price. American officials aren’t so sure.

Elaborate Tales: As the Ukraine war grinds on, the Kremlin has created increasingly complex fabrications online  to discredit Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, and undermine the country’s support in the West.

Targeting Russia’s Oil Industry: With its army short of ammunition and troops to break the deadlock on the battlefield, Kyiv has increasingly taken the fight beyond the Ukrainian border, attacking oil infrastructure deep in Russian territory .

How We Verify Our Reporting

Our team of visual journalists analyzes satellite images, photographs , videos and radio transmissions  to independently confirm troop movements and other details.

We monitor and authenticate reports on social media, corroborating these with eyewitness accounts and interviews. Read more about our reporting efforts .

South Africa will allow a Russian oligarch to moor his superyacht in Cape Town as it continues on epic global cruise avoiding Western sanctions

• A $500 million oligarch-owned superyacht has cruised between the Seychelles, Russia, and Hong Kong.
• The yacht, owned by sanctioned billionaire Alexei Mordashov, is now headed to Cape Town, South Africa.
• Cape Town's mayor and the South African president are at odds over allowing the yacht to dock.

A $500 million superyacht will be allowed to dock in Cape Town, South Africa despite its Russian oligarch owner being sanctioned by the US, UK and EU. 

Nord, the 465-foot vessel owned by billionaire steel magnate Alexei Mordashov , has made multiple stops across the eastern hemisphere since he was sanctioned in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 

Data from Marine Traffic shows that Nord left the Seychelles in March before staying in Vladivostok , in the Russian far east, until September 28, when it made its way to Hong Kong . 

At the time, Washington warned Hong Kong against providing a "safe haven" for sanctioned oligarchs, questioning the city state's reputation as an international financial center.

Nord has now left the city state, and is sailing towards South Africa where it is expected to moor on November 9, Marine Traffic data shows. The yacht's last reported position was west of Indonesia on Wednesday, per Spire Maritime .

When it arrives in South Africa, it will be allowed to dock, despite outcry from some in the country.

Related stories

The mayor of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis, told the Wall Street Journal that the city could become "a new favorite destination for Russians fleeing sanctions in the rest of the world" if Nord is allowed to dock.

Hill-Lewis also said that he had received conflicting reports as to whether Mordashov is on board his superyacht, but the oligarch's spokesperson said he remains in Moscow, per the Journal.

The mayor, a member of South Africa's opposition Democratic Alliance party, added: "South Africa has a moral duty to do what it can to protest unjust war, state terrorism, and the gross violation of human rights."

However, the country's government has rejected his call to turn away Nord, which has two helicopter pads and a swimming pool among other luxuries. 

"South Africa has no legal obligation to abide by sanctions imposed by the US and EU," Vincent Magwenya, a spokesman for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said, per the BBC.

"South Africa's obligations with respect to sanctions relate only to those that are specifically adopted by the United Nations."

South Africa was among the 35 countries which abstained from a UN resolution in March which demanded the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.

Mordashov's smaller superyacht, Lady M, was seized by Italian authorities in March due to EU sanctions. Bloomberg also reported that Nord changed its flag from Russia to the Cayman Islands in June.

• Main content

Hong Kong nixes U.S. sanctions on Russian-owned superyacht

Hong Kong’s leader, John Lee, said Tuesday he will only implement United Nations sanctions, after the U.S. warned the territory’s status as a financial center could be affected if it acts as a safe haven for sanctioned individuals .

Lee’s statement Tuesday came days after a luxury yacht connected to Russian tycoon Alexey Mordashov docked in the city.

Mordashov, who is believed to have close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, was sanctioned by the U.S., U.K. and the European Union in February after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Hong Kong authorities have said that they do not implement unilateral sanctions imposed by other governments.

“We cannot do anything that has no legal basis,” Lee told reporters. “We will comply with United Nations sanctions, that is our system, that is our rule of law,” he said.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson said in a statement Monday that “the possible use of Hong Kong as a safe haven by individuals evading sanctions from multiple jurisdictions further calls into question the transparency of the business environment.”

The State Department spokesperson also said the city’s reputation as a financial center “depends on its adherence to international laws and standards” and that U.S. companies “increasingly view Hong Kong’s business environment with wariness” due to an erosion of Hong Kong’s once high degree of autonomy and its freedoms.

The $500-million superyacht Nord, allegedly owned by Mordashov, moored in Hong Kong’s harbor on Wednesday following a weeklong journey from the Russian city of Vladivostok.

Mordashov is one of Russia’s richest men, with an estimated wealth of about $18 billion. He also is the main shareholder and chairman of Severstal, Russia’s largest steel and mining company. Mordashov has tried to challenge the sanctions against him in European courts.

U.S. and European authorities have seized over a dozen yachts belonging to sanctioned Russian tycoons to prevent them from sailing to other ports that are not affected by the sanctions. So Russian oligarchs have begun docking their yachts at ports in places like Turkey, which has maintained diplomatic ties with Russia since the war began.

The Nord measures 141.6 meters (464.6 feet), has two helipads, a swimming pool and 20 cabins. It is operating under a Russian flag.

Beijing sets foreign policy for Hong Kong and has demurred from participating in sanctions against Russia for its attack on Ukraine.

Britain handed control over its colony Hong Kong to China in 1997, promising to respect its semi-autonomous status as a separate economic and customs territory. The semi-autonomous city’s status as an international business hub and financial center has suffered in recent years after Beijing imposed a tough national security law on the city, aimed primarily at stamping out dissent following months of antigovernment protests in 2019.

Critics say the security law, which in certain cases allows for suspects to be transferred to mainland China for trial in its opaque legal system, could threaten Hong Kong’s rule of law.

Following passage of the law in 2020, the United States sanctioned Lee, then Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam and other Hong Kong and mainland Chinese government officials, for “undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy and restricting the freedom of expression or assembly.”

Lee blasted the ban on personal and official travel to the U.S. and access to the American financial system.

He was responding to a question of whether he is paid in cash, as was the case for Lam, who was also placed under U.S. sanctions that limit the ability of those designated for such penalties to transfer funds across national boundaries or convert them into different currencies.

“The second thing about the so-called sanction imposed on people in Hong Kong without justification, it is a very barbaric act, and I’m not going to comment on the effect of such barbaric act, because officials in Hong Kong do what is right to protect the interests of the country, and the interests of Hong Kong, so we will just laugh off the so-called sanctions,” Lee said.

'Morning Joe' Suggests Russian Oligarch Could Pay Trump's Judgments: 'Everybody's National Security Concern'

"Morning Joe" questioned where Donald Trump could find the money to pay a court-ordered $464 million bond, with one guest suggesting that the former president could get foreign bad actors involved - and become a national security threat.

Trump was ordered by a New York City judge to pay the sum after being found liable for civil fraud. If Trump is unable to pay in full by March 25, New York Attorney General Letitia James has threatened a seizure of assets including Trump's New York properties. 

"What are the chances, though? He doesn't have someone come up with the money for him and get away with this and everything else he seems to be getting away with," "Morning Joe" co-host Mika Brzezinski said Wednesday. 

"Jared Kushner walked away from Saudi Arabia with $2 billion. He's buying land in eastern European countries," Brzezinski countered. "There's I think a slight chance he has access to the money."

MSNBC legal analyst Andrew Weissmann added that who pays the sum for Trump is "everyone's national security concern," as it could be someone like "Elon Musk here in the United States or in a maybe equally or more scary way, somebody like an MBS or a Russian oligarch."

A foreign party, Weissmann points out, could see this as "a very good investment because if he becomes president, there will be 464 million reasons why Donald Trump will favor and that person in terms of his policies."

Weissmann said that Trump's "best exit strategy" would be to defer to a third party to pay the sum to stave off an asset seizure.

"And also disclosure of just how fragile his empire is. To keep that all under wraps, his best strategy is to find that third party, even if it is a foreigner who will loan him the money," Weissmann concluded. 

"I want to understand more about how that's possible," Brzezinski replied in disbelief. 

It wasn't Brzezinski's only exclamation at one of Weissmann's theories on Wednesday, as minutes before she cried out "I don't believe it!" when the legal analyst said New York district attorney Letetia James could start seizing Trump's buildings as early as next week. You can read about that exchange here.

The post 'Morning Joe' Suggests Russian Oligarch Could Pay Trump's Judgments: 'Everybody's National Security Concern' appeared first on TheWrap .

Russia gets new head of Navy after Black Sea Fleet suffers at hand of Ukraine

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Explainer: How will the West use Russia's frozen assets?

The European Union is expected to move a step closer this week to seizing some of the money that has been building up on around $280 billion worth of Russian assets frozen by the West since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Humanitarian aid ship completes first food delivery to Gaza by sea

A humanitarian aid ship has completed the first aid delivery by sea to Gaza via a new maritime corridor, unloading 200 tons of food and water to the besieged enclave, the nonprofit World Central Kitchen said Saturday. A second aid ship is preparing to sail from Cyprus, the group said.

“All cargo was offloaded and is being readied for distribution in Gaza,” World Central Kitchen said in a statement.

The second aid ship contained “pallets of canned goods and bulk product — including beans, carrots, canned tuna, chickpeas, canned corn, parboiled rice, flour, oil and salt.” It also included 120 kilograms of fresh dates — commonly eaten to break fasts during the Islamic month of Ramadan.

The maritime mission dubbed “Operation Safeena,” meaning ship in Arabic, was dispatched by World Central Kitchen, a U.S. nonprofit founded by chef José Andrés , and the Spanish search-and-rescue group Open Arms this week. The Israel Defense Forces has previously said that the food aid would be transferred to trucks operated by the nonprofit, which would “distribute them to northern Gaza.”

U.N. officials have warned that Gaza is on the brink of famine, with the situation particularly dire in the north. On Friday, UNICEF warned that almost 1 in 3 children under age 2 in northern Gaza were suffering from acute malnutrition, up from 15.6 percent in January, based on nutrition screenings it and partners had conducted. At least 27 people, mostly children , have died of malnutrition or dehydration in recent weeks, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

Aid deliveries to Gaza have become increasingly precarious, with the number of aid trucks plummeting; humanitarian officials say Israel has limited land entry points and targeted civilian police responsible for protecting the convoys. Countries, including the United States, have taken to air dropping aid — a costly and dangerous procedure — while President Biden has announced plans for the U.S. military to construct a floating pier off Gaza’s coast — something that could take up to 60 days to construct.

World Central Kitchen said that Saturday’s aid was offloaded via a jetty the group built on the coast of Gaza and that the second ship could carry two forklifts and a crane to assist with future maritime deliveries. It said it had no information yet on when the second boat, which will carry 240 tons of food aid, might set sail.

Here’s what else to know

Israel said Friday that it will send a delegation to Qatar to continue negotiations for the release of Hamas-held hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israel . The move comes on the heels of the latest cease-fire proposal put forward by Hamas, which Israel has accused of making “unrealistic demands.” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Friday that the Hamas proposal was “in broad brushstrokes, within the bounds of the deal that we’ve been working on now for several months.”

Biden praised a recent speech by Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) that criticized Netanyahu’s government and called for Israel to hold a new election. Biden described it as “a good speech” that “expressed a serious concern shared not only by [Schumer] but by many Americans.” Israeli officials criticized Schumer’s remarks, with Israel’s ambassador to the United States calling it “counterproductive to our common goals.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved plans for a military operation in Rafah, his office said Friday . The statement did not provide additional details about the offensive, which is opposed by several world leaders and humanitarian organizations, who say it could be devastating for the more than 1.4 million Palestinians estimated to be seeking refuge in the city. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in Vienna on Friday that the Biden administration had not seen a plan from Israel detailing how it would protect civilians if the military moves into the densely populated city.

At least 20 people were killed and more than 150 were injured late Thursday while awaiting aid in northern Gaza, in what Palestinian officials in the enclave said was an Israeli attack. Witnesses interviewed by The Washington Post said they saw an Israeli helicopter and drones randomly firing on Palestinians. The Israeli military denied responsibility for the killings and late Friday released edited footage of what it said showed “Palestinian gunmen opening fire in the midst of Gazan civilians.” The accounts from witnesses and the IDF could not be independently corroborated.

More than a dozen authors have dropped out of a PEN America festival, citing the literary nonprofit’s inaction over the war in Gaza . Naomi Klein, Hisham Matar and Maaza Mengiste are among the writers who have said they will not be participating in the annual PEN World Voices Festival this year, criticizing the organization for failing to call “for an immediate and unconditional cease-fire.” The nonprofit has said on its website that it has “done considerable work in response to the war. Some has been public, and some has been behind the scenes to protect the imperiled artists and writers we are assisting.”

At least 31,553 people have been killed and 73,546 injured in Gaza since the war began, according to the Gaza Health Ministry , which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Israel estimates that about 1,200 people were killed in Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack and says 249 soldiers have been killed since the start of its military operation in Gaza.

A previous version of this article misstated which ship World Central Kitchen referred to in a statement on food aid. The statement said canned goods, bulk products and fresh dates were on the second aid ship as it prepared for launch. The article has been corrected.

Israel-Gaza war

Israel-Gaza war: Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to make a quick stop in Israel as tensions are rising between the United States and Israel over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans to invade Rafah . The Israeli military said Wednesday that it was continuing its raid on al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, where people said they were trapped in dire conditions.

Middle East conflict: Tensions in the region continue to rise. As Israeli troops aim to take control of the Gaza-Egypt border crossing, officials in Cairo warn that the move would undermine the 1979 peace treaty. Meanwhile, there’s a diplomatic scramble to avert full-scale war between Israel and Lebanon .

U.S. involvement: U.S. airstrikes in Iraq and Syria killed dozens of Iranian-linked militants , according to Iraqi officials. The strikes were the first round of retaliatory action by the Biden administration for an attack in Jordan that killed three U.S. service members .

• Republicans hug Netanyahu tighter as Democratic tensions with Israel war strategy boil Earlier today Republicans hug Netanyahu tighter as Democratic tensions with Israel war strategy boil Earlier today
• Blinken begins new round of Gaza talks in Saudi Arabia March 20, 2024 Blinken begins new round of Gaza talks in Saudi Arabia March 20, 2024
• Blinken to visit Israel amid tensions over plan to invade Rafah March 20, 2024 Blinken to visit Israel amid tensions over plan to invade Rafah March 20, 2024

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Russia-Ukraine war: Putin says Crimea ‘returned home’ when it was annexed and declares Donbas part of ‘New Russia’ – as it happened

This live blog is now closed. For more on Putin’s re-election, you can read our latest reporting:

• West condemns ‘undemocratic’ Russian election as results show Putin landslide
• 3d ago Summary
• 3d ago Putin says Ukraine region of Donbas and other occupied areas part of 'New Russia'
• 3d ago Putin says Crimea returned 'to our common family' in speech marking 10th anniversary of annexation
• 3d ago Putin says 'Crimea has returned to the home harbor'
• 3d ago Crowds gather near Red Square ahead of rally to mark Russia's annexation of Crimea and Putin's election victory
• 3d ago Summary of the day so far...
• 3d ago EU council agrees to increase support to Ukraine's armed forces by £4.3bn
• 3d ago Russian interior ministry launches 61 criminal cases after presidential election - report
• 3d ago Independent Russian vote monitoring group says presidential election most corrupt in country's history
• 3d ago US senator Lindsey Graham arrives in Kyiv
• 3d ago Kremlin says creation of a 'buffer zone' is necessary to protect Russian territory from Ukrainian attacks
• 3d ago David Cameron: Russian election outcome shows 'depth of repression' under Putin
• 3d ago Xi Jinping congratulates Putin on his election victory
• 3d ago Western leaders denounce Putin’s 'illegitimate' election win
• 3d ago Opening summary

Putin says Crimea returned 'to our common family' in speech marking 10th anniversary of annexation

Putin added: “Through decades, they carried faith in their fatherland. They never separated themselves from Russia and that’s what allowed Crimea to return to our common family.”

Other presidential candidates also joined Putin on stage and gave remarks.

Nikolai Kharitonov, who finished in second place with only 4% of the vote said: “Of Russia and Crimea, there is only one motherland. And I congratulate you on this 10th anniversary.”

Third-place finisher Vladislav Davankov said: “Dear friends, I will always remember that feeling of pride for my country and my president, exactly 10 years ago and I congratulate you. I congratulate you on that event,” looking towards Putin.

To conclude the remarks, Putin said: “All glory to Russia.”

The Russian national anthem was then sung onstage by Putin, the other candidates, and featured performers.

That concludes today’s updates on the Russia-Ukraine war. Here’s what happened:

Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said it was “critically important” for the US to provide additional military aid to Ukraine, during a meeting with US senator Lindsey Graham on Monday. “It is critically important for us that the Congress soon completes all the necessary procedures and makes a final decision … which will strengthen the Ukrainian economy and our armed forces,” Zelenskiy said in a statement, AFP reported.

Putin declared the Donbas and other occupied areas as the “New Russia” during a speech in Moscow’s Red Square remarks to mark his re-election and the 10th anniversary of Russia’s annexation of Crimea, BBC reported . Putin added that a new rail link is being built through parts of occupied Ukraine, noting that those regions have “declared their desire to return to their native family”.

Putin added that Crimea returned ‘to our common family’ during his remarks. “Through decades, they carried faith in their fatherland. They never separated themselves from Russia and that’s what allowed Crimea to return to our common family,” he said.

Putin also compared Crimea to an aircraft carrier that returned to its “home harbor”. “Ten years ago here, in the Red Square, on this very stage, I recalled that Crimea is often called an unsinkable aircraft carrier and it is appropriate to say that Crimea has returned to the home harbor,” Putin said.

An independent Russian vote monitoring group has said that the presidential election that Vladimir Putin won in a landslide with nearly 90% of the vote was the most fraudulent and corrupt in the country’s history. Golos (Voice) said the three-day election that ended on Sunday could not be considered genuine because “the campaign took place in a situation where the fundamental articles of the Russian constitution, guaranteeing political rights and freedoms, were essentially not in effect”. “Never before have we seen a presidential campaign that fell so far short of constitutional standards,” the group said in a statement .

That’s it for today. Thank you for reading.

Here’s more information on Western reaction to Putin’s election from the Guardian’s Pjotr Sauer.

EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell said that EU foreign ministers strongly support taking revenue from frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine , but no consensus has been reached , Reuters reported.

“I am not saying there was unanimity but [there was] a strong consensus to take this decision,” Borrell said on Monday to reporters following a meeting with the ministers held in Brussels.

Meanwhile, Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said it was “critically important” for the US to provide additional military aid to Ukraine, during a meeting with US senator Lindsey Graham.

“It is critically important for us that the Congress soon completes all the necessary procedures and makes a final decision … which will strengthen the Ukrainian economy and our armed forces,” Zelenskiy said in a statement, AFP reported.

A $60bn aid package to Ukraine is currently being stalled by Republicans in the House of Representatives, who want additional aid to be connected to tougher policies on immigration.

Putin says Ukraine region of Donbas and other occupied areas part of 'New Russia'

Putin also declared the Donbas and other occupied areas as the “New Russia”, in his Red Square remarks, BBC reported .

Putin added that a new rail link is being built through parts of occupied Ukraine , adding that those regions have “declared their desire to return to their native family”.

“All this is happening thanks to you, citizens of Russia ,” Putin added.

Crowds gather near Red Square ahead of rally to mark Russia's annexation of Crimea and Putin's election victory

A rally/concert to mark the 10th anniversary of Russia’s annexation of Crimea is due to take place shortly.

The event, being held in central Moscow, will also mark Vladimir Putin’s electoral victory. Much of the Russian president’s address is likely to focus on his invasion of Ukraine , a topic that he made front and centre in his victory speech on Sunday night.

Some Telegram channels have reported that university students have been bussed into Moscow for the event, which is being heavily policed, according to BBC News.

Summary of the day so far...

The European Council has agreed to increase its support to the Ukrainian armed forces by €5bn ($5.44bn; £4.3bn), through a dedicated assistance fund, it said in a statement . “With the fund, we will continue to support Ukraine defend itself from Russia’s war of aggression with whatever it takes and for as long as we need to,” the EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell , said.

The Kremlin said that the only way to protect Russian territory from Ukrainian attacks was to create a buffer zone that would put Russian regions beyond the reach of Ukrainian fire. In a call with reporters, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said: “Against the backdrop of (Ukrainian) drone attacks and the shelling of our territory: public facilities, residential buildings, measures must be taken to secure these territories. They can only be secured by creating some kind of buffer zone so that any means that the enemy uses to strike us are out of range.” Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak told Reuters that Vladimir Putin’s statement that he wanted to create a buffer zone in Ukrainian territory is a clear declaration that the war will escalate. “This is … a direct manifest statement that the war will only escalate,” he said .

Western leaders and ministers have denounced what they have described as a sham Russian election, in which Putin won a fifth term as Russian president by a landslide of about 87%, according to exit polls. The EU has said the Russian election took place in a highly restricted environment “exacerbated by Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine”. Latvian minister Krišjānis Kariņš said: “Russia will not stop, they can only be stopped. Ukraine is prepared to do the stopping but they need our assistance.”

Adding to western condemnation of the Russian presidential election’s outcome and process, the UK’s foreign secretary, David Cameron , said the election highlighted the “depth of repression” in the country under Putin. “These Russian elections starkly underline the depth of repression under President Putin’s regime, which seeks to silence any opposition to his illegal war,” Cameron, who is a former Conservative prime minister, said in a statement , referring to the war in Ukraine. “Putin removes his political opponents, controls the media, and then crowns himself the winner. This is not democracy.”

China’s president, Xi Jinping , congratulated Putin on winning another term as Russia’s president and said China was set to maintain close communication with Russia to promote their partnership, according to Chinese state media. “Your re-election is a full demonstration of the support of the Russian people for you,” Xi was quoted as saying by Xinhua News. “I believe that under your leadership, Russia will certainly be able to achieve greater achievements in national development and construction.” India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi , congratulated Putin on his election win, saying that he was looking forward to strengthening ties to develop their “special and privileged” strategic partnership in the years to come.

Lindsey Graham , a South Carolina senator and foreign policy hawk who has long advocated arming Ukraine against Russian invaders, arrived in Kyiv on Monday morning . “Unwavering US support is critical to Ukraine’s success in confronting an illegal full-scale war with Russia,” the US embassy captioned the photo of his arrival by train.

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