putins yacht in hamburg

Data from MarineTraffic, a global intelligence group, shows Putin's alleged yacht, the Graceful, left Germany two weeks before the invasion of Ukraine . 

Putin's government salary is said to be about $140,000, but that doesn't begin to explain the mansions, million-dollar watch collection and over-the-top yacht. 

"It would be fair to say he's among the richest men in the world," Smith said. 

Though he sells himself as a man of the people, his wealth is estimated to be more than $100 billion. 

Putin's critics allege he also has a cliffside palace that includes an amphitheater and a personal tunnel to the beach that doubles as a security bunker. 

"Of course, he doesn't acknowledge it as being his own," Smith said. "It doesn't fit with the public persona that he's trying to create to actually acknowledge it." 

Putin relies on his oligarch friends to shield his fortune from sanctions, Smith said. 

"So if he asked them to do something, they do it in terms of hiding assets, squirreling them in different parts of the globe, they will do what he needs," he said. 

Those who have tried to expose Putin's fortune have done so at great personal risk. 

Putin critic Boris Nemtsov was assassinated on a bridge in the shadow of the Kremlin in 2015. Sergei Magnitsky died in 2009 under questionable circumstances in prison after he exposed $230 million in fraud by Putin's friends. Putin publicly condemned Nemtsov's murder and claimed Magnitsky died of a heart attack.  

His most recent No. 1 critic, Alexei Navalny , who helped expose Putin's lavish palace, emerged as a political rival and found himself repeatedly jailed. He nearly died after being poisoned two years ago, though Putin has denied responsibility for the poisoning. 

"Putin's wealth is one of the most dangerous topics," said Russian journalist Roman Badanin, who spent two decades investigating Putin's financial web. 

Badanin said Russian authorities sought to intimidate and silence his reporting team. Six months ago, he reached his breaking point. 

"I fled the country. My apartment was searched twice. I have like three criminal charges against me back in Russia," he said. 

In his State of the Union address, President Biden said the U.S. and its allies are waging economic war on Putin and Russian oligarchs. 

"We are joining with our European allies to find and seize your yachts, your luxury apartments and your private jets," Biden said. 

On Wednesday, the Justice Department announced the formation of a new task force that would target Russian oligarchs. 

"Russia is not a transparent economy," Smith said. "The U.S. and our allies have decent information on some of [Putin's] assets, I think a lot will remain a mystery for a long time in the future." 

The biggest financial hit for Putin would be sanctions on the energy sector, which Smith says the Russian president has used to build up his wealth for years. So far, Washington and the Europeans have been hesitant to do that. 

• Vladimir Putin

Catherine Herridge is a senior investigative correspondent for CBS News covering national security and intelligence based in Washington, D.C.

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Inside Vladimir Putin's £73 Million Superyacht Complete With Swimming Pool

Footage shows the inside of the super yacht thought to belong to vladimir putin.

Footage has emerged of the 270ft-long superyacht named 'Graceful' allegedly belonging to Vladimir Putin.

The video came to light amid news that it was spotted abruptly leaving a port in Hamburg heading towards Russia, which some speculated was an attempt to avoid any potential sanctions that would be imposed on the yacht should Russia invade Ukraine.

According to reports, the £73.2 million yacht was commissioned in 2005 and after completion in 2010 it was damaged in transit while being relocated to Germany, which delayed the ship being finished.

It was then taken to Blohm+Voss for finishing and was complete in 2014.

The hull of the ship was made in Sevmash, Russia's largest shipbuilding site, and the vessel is powered by two MTU engines and has a top cruising speed of 18 knots.

According to reports, the ship can hold 12 guests and 14 crew members, and features a 15m-long indoor swimming pool.

Just in case, you know, you don't fancy going in the water outside.

The pool isn't just a pool though; it also turns into a dance floor, which in our opinion makes this boat basically a Transformer.

There is also a wine cellar capable of holding 400 bottles, so you can't tell us people aren't partying on this boat.

Along with the dance floor and wine cellar, there is a formal dining room, saloon, and tearoom, so you can have breakfast, lunch, and dinner in three different spaces.

You know, just to feel something.

The yacht was designed by H2 Yacht Design and is a tri-deck boat.

Jonny Horsfield , founder of the company, said that the yacht's owner 'is a very confident person', adding that the boat was intended to be timeless in its design.

Horsfield added, 'He knows what he likes and he's not a slave to trends.'

While Russia has firmly denied any potential plans to invade Ukraine, there are currently 100,000 Russian troops massed near the border.

The US, EU and NATO have all warned of imposing potential sanctions should Russia invade.

According to reports, the yacht could be subject to these sanctions, which would explain why it had moved from Germany where it had been receiving multiple modifications.

According to reports, the modifications included an extension of the swimming pool platform and two forward balconies.

If you have a story you want to tell, send it to UNILAD via [email protected]    

Topics:  Viral , Vladimir Putin , Russia

Shola Lee began her journalism career while studying for her undergraduate degree at Queen Mary, University of London and Columbia University in New York. She has written for the Columbia Spectator, QM Global Bloggers, CUB Magazine, UniDays, and Warner Brothers' Wizarding World Digital. Recently, Shola took part in the 2021 BAFTA Crew and BBC New Creatives programme before becoming a journalist at UNILAD, where she works on breaking news, trending stories, and features.

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Ukraine invasion — explained

The roots of Russia's invasion of Ukraine go back decades and run deep. The current conflict is more than one country fighting to take over another; it is — in the words of one U.S. official — a shift in "the world order." Here are some helpful stories to make sense of it all.

Germany seizes the world's largest yacht (at least according to volume)

Rachel Treisman

The luxury superyacht Dilbar sails off the coast of Monaco in 2017. Valery Hache/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

The luxury superyacht Dilbar sails off the coast of Monaco in 2017.

German authorities have seized the world's largest yacht by volume after determining that a Russian oligarch had transferred its ownership to his sister — who is also facing Western sanctions.

Dilbar, the yacht in question, measures some 511 feet and 15,917 tons, which shipbuilder Lurssen says makes it the largest motor yacht in the world by gross tonnage. It has two helipads and one of the biggest indoor pools ever installed on a yacht, according to the U.S. Treasury Department , which puts its estimated worth between $600 and $735 million.

Why so many Russian billionaires are called oligarchs

The superyacht is named after the mother of its original owner: Alisher Usmanov, one of Russia's wealthiest billionaires and a known close associate of the Russian president. Usmanov was sanctioned by the U.S., United Kingdom., European Union and Switzerland in March, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Germany's federal police tweeted Wednesday that it found, "through extensive investigations despite offshore concealment," that the yacht currently belongs to Usmanov's sister, Gulbakhor Ismailova. Authorities impounded the yacht, which remains at the port of Hamburg , after confirming with Brussels that its owner is under sanctions.

A Russian billionaire's superyacht has been impounded in Hamburg, Germany. Harsh sanctions in response to the invasion of #Ukraine brought the estimated $600-750 million yacht Dilbar out of 'offshore concealment', and into the hands of authorities. pic.twitter.com/GYkH6SmQk2 — German Embassy (@GermanyinUSA) April 14, 2022

Ismailova was sanctioned by the U.K. on Wednesday and the EU last week. Both entities said Usmanov had indirectly transferred assets to his sister, including leaving her as Dilbar's only beneficial owner.

"The owner of the yacht 'Dilbar' is Navis Marine Ltd. (Cayman Islands), whose shareholder is Almenor Holdings Ltd. (Cyprus). All shares in that holding company are held by PomerolCapital SA (Switzerland) in trust for the benefit of 'The Sisters Trust,' " EU officials explained, adding that Usmanov has not been a shareholder of that trust company since 2017.

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

Ukrainian sailors tried to block a Russian oligarch's yacht from docking in Turkey

Ismailova has also been linked to luxury real estate in Italy and Latvia associated with Usmanov, the EU said, and therefore has "actively supported materially or financially Russian decision-makers responsible for the annexation of Crimea and the destabilisation of Ukraine."

Dilbar made headlines in early March , when Hamburg officials denied conflicting reports that they had seized the superyacht and said any such move would have to come from higher federal customs authorities.

According to Boat International, Dilbar is also the fourth-longest yacht in the world. It can accommodate up to 96 crew members as well as 24 guests in a large living space, which includes fold-out balconies, an onboard garden (with "a specifically developed variety of grass that tolerates salt air") and more than 1,000 custom-made sofa cushions.

This story originally appeared in the Morning Edition live blog .

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On board Putin's £73million superyacht: 270ft-vessel with a helipad and a swimming pool that turns into a dancefloor sailed out of German shipyard ahead of possible sanctions if Russia invades Ukraine

• Vladimir Putin's superyacht, Graceful, was pictured with stunning interiors created by H2 Yacht Design
• The pleasure craft boasts a spiral staircase, a swimming pool which can turn into a dancefloor and a helipad  
• Earlier this week it was said to be 'fleeing' a German shipyard amid mounting sanction threats over Ukraine 

By Elmira Tanatarova and Rachel Bunyan For Mailonline

Published: 13:20 EDT, 12 February 2022 | Updated: 03:37 EDT, 13 February 2022

View comments

Vladimir Putin 's superyacht has been pictured in all its glory, featuring the stunning finely furnished interiors, a spiral staircase and a swimming pool after being spotted 'fleeing' from a shipyard in Germany  earlier this week, sparking speculation that it was trying to avoid being impounded by tough sanctions that would be imposed if Moscow invaded Ukraine .

The £73.2 million pleasure craft, named Graceful, was originally built by Sevmash in Russia - with interiors and exteriors envisioned by H2 Yacht Design - was moved to Germany for modifications. 

The interiors include glossy sleek surfaces, soft cushioned sofas and deck chairs, and a posh white marble-styled bathroom. 

What appears to be an office room contains multitudes of shelves for books and a desk fronted with a stunning painting of a sailing boat. 

Exercise equipment can also be seen out on the deck, which is also lined with lounge-style seating and barstools. 

Vladimir Putin's superyacht has been pictured in all its glory, featuring the stunning finely furnished interiors, a spiral staircase and a swimming pool after being spotted 'fleeing' from a shipyard in Germany earlier this week

The superyacht features a indoor pool that can be transformed into a dance floor as well as a helipad, reported superyacht magazine Boote Exclusiv.

The £73.2 million pleasure craft, named Graceful, was originally built by Sevmash in Russia was moved to Germany for modifications

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But reports from German newspaper Bild  suggest the superyacht escaped before repairs, which it said had been going on for months and included two new balconies, could be finished.  

It added Putin's 270ft vessel was 'fleeing' Germany amid the Ukraine crisis, with the newspaper claiming that the move 'was obviously an escape for fear of being arrested'. 

They referenced UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, who has threatened to introduce tough sanctions and told Putin and his allies they will 'have nowhere to hide' if Russia invades Kiev. 

Putin's vessel had been at the Blohm+Voss shipyard since 2021 to be cleaned and refurbished, with two new large balconies being fitted, reported German newspaper Kieler Nachrichten.

The newspaper published a photograph showing Graceful docked alongside the German Navy Corvette Emden at the shipyard before it set sail.

The superyacht features a indoor pool that can be transformed into a dance floor as well as a helipad, reported superyacht magazine Boote Exclusiv. 

The Russian President's yacht set sail from the Blohm+Voss shipyard in Hamburg on Monday and had arrived in the Russian enclave Kaliningrad by midday on Wednesday, according to the ship tracking website Marine Traffic .

Putin's vessel had been at the Blohm+Voss shipyard since 2021 to be cleaned and refurbished, with two new large balconies being fitted, reported German newspaper Kieler Nachrichten

The £73.2 million yacht, called 'Graceful', was seen sailing through the Kiel Canal a few hours after leaving the Port of Hamburg before heading out to the Baltic Sea. 

Ukrainian paper DialogUA  reported the yacht left the port in a haste, and had already passed the canal 13 hours after the news came out.

The decision to move Graceful towards Russia comes as tensions continue to escalate between the West and Moscow over Ukraine. 

It was today reported that Russia is planning to invade Ukraine on Wednesday, according to a credible intelligence report, as US President Joe Biden urgently arranged a telephone call with Vladimir Putin in a bid to prevent war.

According to German newspaper Der Spiegel, the US Secret Service, CIA and the Pentagon are said to have received intel of an 'exceptionally detailed' invasion plan, scheduled for February 16.

The plans were passed on to Biden's government and discussed in a series of secret briefings with NATO allies.

They are said to contain specific routes that might be taken by individual Russian units and detail what roles they might play in the conflict. Der Speigel suggests the US is mulling whether to make the plans public in a bid to undermine them.

But the West's fears of a war were today branded 'alarmist' and a symptom of American 'hysteria.'

Kieler Nachrichten published a photograph showing Graceful docked alongside the German Navy Corvette Emden at the shipyard before it set sail

The Russian President's yacht set sail from the Blohm+Voss shipyard in Hamburg on Monday and had arrived in the Russian enclave Kaliningrad by midday on Wednesday, according to the ship tracking website Marine Traffic 

The stunning interiors of Putin's superyacht, called Grateful, which earlier this week was reported to be 'fleeing' a German shipyard ahead of possible sanctions 

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Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on Telegram: 'The White House's hysteria is more revealing than ever. The Anglo-Saxons need a war. At all cost.

'The provocations, disinformation and the threats are their favourite method for resolving their own problems.'

The White House confirmed that Biden and Putin would discuss the crisis by phone today - just hours after thousands of Brits and Americans were warned to get out of Ukraine while they still can, as tensions reached boiling point.

The warning came amid fears that Putin could launch an 'aerial bombardment' of Kiev, risking a high civilian death toll.

Several other countries have now told their citizens to leave the country, including Belgium, who on Saturday warned there would be 'no guarantee of evacuation' following a 'sudden deterioration', as 'communication links including internet and telephone lines could be seriously affected' and air travel hampered.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken today warned that the crisis had reached a 'pivotal moment', adding that there continues to be 'very troubling signs of Russian escalation', including new forces arriving around Ukraine's borders.

Washington and its NATO allies have said they will not send troops to protect Ukraine from a Russian attack, but would send arms to help Ukrainians defend themselves and respond with financial sanctions against Moscow. 

A spiral staircase wraps around a lift in Putin's superyacht, which was seen sailing away from a German shipyard on Monday following escalating tensions over Ukraine

But reports from German newspaper Bild suggest the superyacht escaped before repairs, which it said had been going on for months and included two new balconies, could be finished

The yacht, with interior and exterior design by H2 Yacht Design, was originally built by Sevmash in Russia and later moved to Germany for modifications

But financial insiders fear that Putin may strike first and target European and US banks with a coordinated cyber attack to inflict economic chaos worldwide.     

The European Central Bank has already told banks to conduct cyber war games to test their ability to fend off a potential attack, with financial regulators on high alert for a new strike. 

The ECB, led by former French minister Christine Lagarde and which has oversight of Europe's biggest lenders, has diverted its attention from regular scams to cyber attacks launched from Russia, an insider revealed.

They added security chiefs have told European and US banks to shore up their defences in preparation for a potential hack. 

The New York Department of Financial Services also issued an alert to financial institutions in late January warning of cyber attacks, according to Thomson Reuters' Regulatory Intelligence. 

The decision to move Graceful towards Russia comes as tensions continue to escalate as it was today reported that Russia is planning to invade Ukraine on Wednesday, according to a credible intelligence report

Gym gear out on Putin's superyacht, Graceful, which was this week spotted reportedly 'fleeing' from a German port as tensions between over Ukraine continue to mount in the West 

A spiral staircase in Putin's yacht, Graceful. The Russian president's 270ft vessel was said to be 'fleeing' Germany earlier this week amid the Ukraine crisis, with German newspaper Bild saying the move 'was obviously an escape for fear of being arrested'

Earlier this year, multiple Ukrainian websites were hit by a cyber strike that left a warning to 'be afraid and expect the worst', as Russia amassed more than 100,000 troops near their borders.

Ukraine's state security service SBU said it saw signs the attack was linked to hacker groups associated with Russian intelligence services.  

The Kremlin has repeatedly denied the Russian state has anything to do with hacking around the world and said it is ready to cooperate with the United States and others to crack down on cyber crime.

Nonetheless, regulators in Europe are on high alert.

It comes as Germany's  gas stocks have fallen to a 'worrying' level, an economy ministry spokeswoman said Wednesday, as fears over a possible invasion of Ukraine by Russia put further pressure on energy supplies.

'Of course we are monitoring the situation of the storage levels and that is certainly worrying,' said the spokeswoman during a regular government press conference, noting that stocks were now at 35-36 percent. A year ago, storage levels were at 82 percent of capacity.

Vladimir Putin waits on the deck of a yacht to welcome Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko on the Black Sea in May 29, 2021 in Sochi, Russia

The decision to move Graceful towards Russia comes as tensions continue to escalate between the West and Moscow over Ukraine

The heightened fears come as Russia holds drills for landing troops and armoured vehicles in combat formation on annexed Crimea near mainland Ukraine.

The exercises involve the Orsk and Novocherkassk large amphibious assault ships.

Six additional landing ships are arriving in the Black Sea ostensibly for drills amid fears of a Russian invasion.

'The exercise involved embarking the hardware and landing an amphibious assault on an unequipped coast,' said a Black Sea source.

Crews of BTR-82A and BTR-82A armoured personnel carriers went into 'combat formation' after landing in an operation involving hundreds of troops at Kazachya Bay in Sevastopol.

The continued war games will do little to dampen the fears of an impending invasion, despite Emmanuel Macron saying on Tuesday he believed steps can be taken to de-escalate the crisis after meeting with Putin in the Kremlin.

And to make matters worse, the Kremlin has ridiculed Macron's claims he struck a deal with Putin for a de-escalation of tensions.   

The French president has positioned himself as a potential peacemaker and proudly boasted he had made 'private promises' with the Russian leader, which had not been sanctioned by NATO , after their meeting in Moscow on Monday.

Ukrainian paper DialogUA reported the yacht left the port in a haste, and had already passed the canal 13 hours after the news came out

Macron said Putin had assured him he 'won't be initiating an escalation', before jetting off to Ukraine for a meeting with president Volodymyr Zelensky on the next leg of his diplomatic tour.

But Russia has now slapped Macron down, saying he does not have enough influence or authority to negotiate any deals unilaterally.

Britain is also said to be concerned about the Frenchman's intervention, with government sources telling the Mail he 'hasn't consulted with anyone' about his peace bid.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected that Putin had made any promises, saying: 'This is wrong in its essence. Moscow and Paris couldn't do any deals. It's simply impossible.

'France is a leading country in the EU, France is a member of NATO, but Paris is not the leader there. In this bloc, a very different country is in charge. So what deals can we talk about?'          

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Putin’s €87m superyacht makes hasty getaway amid sanction warnings

Friday, February 11th, 2022

Written by: Marine Industry News

The 82-metre superyacht Graceful , said to belong to Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been pictured sailing towards Russia from a German shipyard. The unexpected move has prompted speculation the Russian leader is avoiding the €87m vessel being impounded by tough sanctions that could follow if Russia invades Ukraine.

German newspaper The Kieler Nachrichten reports that the luxury yacht had been at the Blohm+Voss shipyard in Hamburg for a refurbishment since 2021, but left German waters swiftly this week, before the work could be completed. The yacht has now arrived at the Russian enclave Kaliningrad on the Baltic Coast, according to tracking website Marine Traffic .

#Putin ´s Yacht “The Gracefull” inbound Kaliningrad from Hamburg in anticipation of future sanctions due to the conflict in #Ukraine . pic.twitter.com/qdhAUhCH1m — Manu Gómez (@GDarkconrad) February 9, 2022

The Bild newspaper claimed the move “was obviously an escape for fear of being arrested”. Amid rising tensions as Russia deploys more troops along the border with Ukraine, Nato states including the US and UK have threatened to introduce tough sanctions if Russia invades Kiev.

The superyacht, which reportedly has an indoor pool that can be transformed into a dance floor as well as a helipad, was scheduled to have two additional forward balconies fitted during the modification works in Hamburg, as well as an extension to the swimming pool, according to Kieler Nachrichten .

Das war anders geplant: Die #Luxusjacht „Graceful“ des russischen Präsidenten Wladimir #Putin ist am Montag unfertig aus #Hamburg ausgelaufen – und wird nun wahrscheinlich in Kaliningrad fertiggestellt. https://t.co/WSUROVqKmr pic.twitter.com/UFEcAoGoJB — Kieler Nachrichten (@kn_online) February 9, 2022

Pictures published by German media show areas of the yacht’s exterior are in a state of semi-repair, with masking tape on windows. Kieler Nachrichten reports the works will most likely be completed in Kaliningrad.

Putin, a former intelligence officer who has been in power as either president or prime minister in Russia since 1999, has a reported (https://wageindicator.co.uk/pay/vip-celebrity-salary/vladimir-putin) annual salary of around 10 million rubles (£98,000).

He has an alleged fleet of at least three luxurious superyachts, although he isn’t confirmed as the official owner of any of them. In addition to the €87m Graceful , he is understood to have a presidential cabin aboard the 57-metre Olympia and also spends time on the 54-metre Chayka ( Seagull ), allegedly purchased for the Russian Presidential Administration to host formal meetings.

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U.S. Officials Say Superyacht Could be Putin’s

They say they have indications that the $700 million, 459-foot yacht, which is in dry dock in Italy, is associated with the Russian president, backing an earlier claim by a former crew member.

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By Julian E. Barnes ,  Michael Forsythe ,  David D. Kirkpatrick and Jason Horowitz

• March 11, 2022

WASHINGTON — American officials are examining the ownership of a $700 million superyacht currently in a dry dock at an Italian seacoast town, and believe it could be associated with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, according to multiple people briefed on the information.

United States intelligence agencies have made no final conclusions about the ownership of the superyacht — called the Scheherazade — but American officials said they had found initial indications that it was linked to Mr. Putin. The information from the U.S. officials came after The New York Times reported on Tuesday that Italian authorities were looking into the 459-foot long vessel’s ownership and that a former crew member said it was for the use of Mr. Putin.

People briefed on the intelligence would not describe what information they had that indicated the superyacht is associated with Mr. Putin. If American officials know whether or how often Mr. Putin uses the yacht, the people briefed on the information would not share it.

American officials said Mr. Putin kept little of his wealth in his own name. Instead he uses homes and boats nominally owned by Russian oligarchs. Still, it is possible that through various shell companies, Mr. Putin could have more direct control of the Scheherazade.

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic Mr. Putin has also spent large amounts of time in the Russian resort city of Sochi on the Black Sea, U.S. officials said. The Scheherazade made trips to Sochi in the summers of 2020 and 2021.

Both the Treasury Department’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis and the Navy’s Office of Naval Intelligence are investigating the ownership of superyachts associated with Russian oligarchs. A spokesman for the Navy and a spokeswoman for the Treasury both declined to comment.

The Justice Department has set up a task force to go after the assets of sanctioned Russian oligarchs. In a discussion with reporters on Friday, a Justice Department official said the task force would be investigating individuals who help sanctioned Russian officials or oligarchs hide their assets. Those individuals could face charges related to sanctions violations or international money laundering charges.

In addition, under recently published Commerce Department rule changes, if more than 25 percent of a plane or a yacht is made of U.S.-manufactured airplane or marine parts, it cannot go to Russia.

If a yacht is in a foreign country and meets the definition of a U.S.-origin or U.S.-made product, it would need a license to go to Russia. To actually seize a yacht, the United States would need to coordinate with a cooperative foreign government — Italy, in the case of the Scheherazade — to prevent the ship from moving to Russian waters.

Some superyachts moved out of European waters as the invasion of Ukraine began and the West began imposing sanctions allowing asset seizures. The Scheherazade is undergoing repairs in Marina di Carrara, a port in Tuscany, and as of earlier this week was in dry dock, unable to get underway.

Guy Bennett-Pearce, the Scheherazade’s captain, said earlier this week that Mr. Putin was not the owner of the superyacht and that the Russian president had not set foot on it.

He declined to give the name of the owner, saying on Monday only that it was not anyone facing sanctions. Captain Bennett-Pearce did not answer his phone on Friday or respond to a text message.

Last week, Italian authorities boarded the Scheherazade and examined certification documents, seeking to learn more about the vessel’s ownership. Captain Bennett-Pearce said earlier this week that he would provide the Italian police with documents that divulged the yacht’s owner.

Italian authorities said they were taking a deep look at the Scheherazade. Under a process that may take as long as a couple of weeks, Italy’s financial police will gather evidence and present it to a government committee, which will then decide whether ownership or use of the ship is connected to someone on the sanctions list.

That connection could be outright ownership of a significant portion of the ship, or evidence that a friend, underling or associate lent his or her name to hide the sanctioned person’s ownership, or that funds used to buy the ship came from illegal profits. If the committee finds that the evidence meets the threshold, the financial police can impound the Scheherazade.

The Italian Sea Group , which owns the shipyard where the Scheherazade is dry-docked, said in a statement on Thursday that based on documents it had and “checks carried out by the relevant authorities,” the Scheherazade “is not attributable to the property of Russian President Vladimir Putin.”

American officials have been stepping up their examination of the superyachts of Russian oligarchs, particularly as the United States and Europe have imposed more sanctions against the wealthy families that support Mr. Putin.

The German-built Scheherazade has been in service since June 2020. The website SuperYachtFan estimated that it cost $700 million. The ship has a full-size gym, two helicopter decks and gold-plated fixtures in the washrooms.

While American intelligence officials have been looking at the Scheherazade, the scrutiny has increased after the publication of the earlier article in The Times.

The Scheherazade appears to have a sister ship, the Crescent , built by the same German manufacturer and put into service in 2018. The Crescent’s project name when it was under construction was “ Thunder. ” The Scheherazade’s was “ Lightning .”

Like the Scheherazade, there is no public information identifying the ship’s owner, other than an offshore shell company. The Crescent last broadcast its position on Nov. 2, when it appeared to be approaching Barcelona, Spain. Satellite images show that as of March 4 it was moored at a marina catering to superyachts near there. Both vessels are registered in the Cayman Islands and both share the same designer .

Katie Benner contributed reporting from Washington, Christoph Koettl from New York, and Gaia Pianigiani from Siena, Italy.

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

David D. Kirkpatrick is an investigative reporter based in New York and the author of “Into the Hands of the Soldiers: Freedom and Chaos in Egypt and the Middle East.“ In 2020 he shared a Pulitzer Prize for reporting on covert Russian interference in other governments and as the Cairo bureau chief from 2011 to 2015 he led coverage of the Arab Spring uprisings. More about David D. Kirkpatrick

Jason Horowitz is the Rome bureau chief, covering Italy, the Vatican, Greece and other parts of Southern Europe. He previously covered the 2016 presidential campaign, the Obama administration and Congress, with an emphasis on political profiles and features. More about Jason Horowitz

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