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France Seizes Russian Billionaire’s Ritzy Superyacht in Punishment for Putin’s Invasion

Igor Sechin is the European Union’s list of billionaires who should face sanctions.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has cost at least one oligarch his superyacht. French authorities confirmed Thursday they had taken possession of a yacht linked to longtime Vladimir Putin confidant Igor Sechin, who was placed on the list of billionaires that the European Union said should be sanctioned in punishment for the invasion. Announcing its seizure of the Amore Velo yacht, France’s economy minister Bruno Le Maire wrote: “Thank you to the French customs officers who enforce the sanctions of the European Union against those close to the Russian authorities.” Earlier Thursday, it was reported that German authorities had seized a $600 million superyacht belonging to Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, but officials in Hamburg later denied those reports.