russian yacht seized uk

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International Edition

Ukraine war: Russian-owned superyacht named Phi and worth £38m seized in London

The superyacht, which was in London for an awards ceremony, is 58.5 metres long and features what is described as an "infinite wine cellar" and a freshwater swimming pool.

Political reporter @itssophiemorris

Wednesday 30 March 2022 12:43, UK

A superyacht owned by a Russian businessman has been detained in London as the UK government continues to impose sanctions due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed that on Tuesday, UK officials boarded the vessel named Phi which was in Canary Wharf in east London.

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"Today we've detained a £38 million superyacht and turned an icon of Russia's power and wealth into a clear and stark warning to Putin and his cronies," Mr Shapps said.

"Detaining the Phi proves, yet again, that we can and will take the strongest possible action against those seeking to benefit from connections to Putin's regime."

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The Department for Transport said it worked with the National Crime Agency and the Border Force Maritime Investigation Bureau to identify and detain the vessel.

The government did not reveal the name of the superyacht's owner, but described her ownership as "deliberately well hidden".

Phi is registered to a company based in the Caribbean dual-island nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis and carries a Maltese flag.

The Department for Transport added that it is "looking at a number of other vessels" and hopes its "strong stance sends an example to international partners".

Following the detention of the vessel, Prime Minister Boris Johnson's official spokesperson told reporters that the UK government "will continue to take robust action against anyone benefitting from Russian links".

"For the first time ever in UK waters, we have detained a Russian superyacht - the £38 million, Phi," he said.

"The Department for Transport has worked closely with the National Crime Agency and Border Force Maritime Investigation Bureau to intercept the superyacht and will continue to take robust action against anyone benefitting from Russian links"

Phi - a vibrant bright blue superyacht named after a mathematical concept - is double the size of the other boats docked around it at Canary Wharf.

The vessel was built in the Netherlands and she made her maiden voyage last year.

Speaking after the vessel's detention, Mr Shapps said Phi "won't be going anywhere".

"It was here for refit, won't be going anywhere, and it's just another indication that we will not stand by whilst Putin's cronies are allowed to sail around the world in these kinds of yachts and people in Ukraine are suffering," he said.

"When you see what he's doing to Ukraine, when you see what he's doing to people's lives, it can't be right to have a yacht like this here in London, able to just sail away and that is why we've impounded it, and denied it ability to go anywhere right now, and it's another indication of how seriously we take these matters."

🚨BREAKING: Russian superyacht detained. I have worked closely with @NCA_UK & the @UKBorder ’s Maritime investigation Bureau to intercept the £38m - Phi. This Government will continue to take robust action against anyone benefiting from connections to Putin’s regime. pic.twitter.com/enp9M2tmBB — Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) March 29, 2022

The government later clarified that the owner of the vessel is not currently subject to UK sanctions.

The move came as the prime minister's official spokesman said Mr Johnson told his Cabinet that "a ceasefire alone would not be cause for UK sanctions to be removed in Russia".

"He said the pressure on Putin must be increased both through further economic measures and providing military aid to ensure Russia changes course completely," the spokesman told reporters.

Number 10 added that the UK government's view on sanctioning outgoing Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has not changed in light of his involvement in peace talks over the Russian invasion,

It comes as the Russian businessman was reported to be in Turkey for discussions on Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said claims that the Chelsea FC owner suffered suspected poisoning during attempts to aid peace talks in Ukraine are "very concerning".

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The UK government has already imposed asset freezes and travel bans on a number of wealthy individuals as well as sanctioning certain Russian banks, limiting the ability of Russian companies to raise finance on the UK markets.

Ministers have also banned Russian carrier Aeroflot from landing in the UK.

But although it has announced it will phase out imports of Russian oil by the end of this year, it has stopped short of imposing a ban on the purchase of Russian gas.

Related Topics

From yachts to lavish estates, tracking Russian assets seized so far

By Tal Yellin , CNN

Published April 13, 2022

Updated April 27, 2022

Countries are on the hunt for sanctioned Russian assets after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February. Thousands of Russians have since been sanctioned by the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom, among others. Superyachts and multimillion-dollar properties have already been seized or frozen by authorities in Italy, France, Spain, the UK and Gibraltar. The United States has also launched KleptoCapture, a task force focused on those who violate sanctions and the seizing of their assets.

This interactive will continue to track known developments and help show where sanctioned Russians park their money outside of Russia. Except for Igor Sechin and Sergei Chemezov, no other oligarchs or related persons mentioned in this story responded to requests for comment from CNN.

Real estate

Other assets

April 14, 2022

“dilbar”  linked to    alisher usmanov   valued at $600-$750 million in hamburg, germany.

Germany has impounded the “Dilbar,” a superyacht connected to a Russian oligarch in Hamburg, the country’s embassy in the US tweeted . The yacht belongs to the sister of Alisher Usmanov and is worth between $600 to $750 million, according to the German Federal Criminal Police Office. Usmanov is one of Russia’s wealthiest billionaires with vast domestic and international holdings. The US government sanctioned him in early March in a campaign targeting Putin’s allies, stating Usmanov is alleged to have “financial ties” to Putin. In March, Italy’s financial police seized his real estate and assets worth about $90 million. Usmanov has also been sanctioned by the European Union.

April 12, 2022

Assets  linked to    roman abramovich   valued at over $7 billion in jersey.

Authorities in the Channel island of Jersey froze more than $7 billion worth of assets “suspected to be connected to” Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, according to a government statement . The frozen assets are either located in Jersey or owned by Jersey incorporated entities, the statement said. The States of Jersey Police also executed search warrants on premises “connected to the business activities” of Abramovich. Abramovich made his fortune in steel and investments and was sanctioned by the UK in March, citing his decades-long relationship with Vladimir Putin. In a statement at the time , the UK government noted that “he is one of the few oligarchs from the 1990s to maintain prominence under Putin.” These frozen assets represent around half his net worth, according to the Bloomberg Billionaire Index .

April 11, 2022

Properties  linked to    nikita mazepin   valued at $114.3 million in sardinia, italy.

A real estate compound, “Rocky Ram,” linked to Nikita Mazepin and his oligarch father Dmitry was seized in Sardinia, the Italian financial police confirmed in a statement. The police said the properties are worth 105 million euros (about $114.3 million). Nikita, a former Formula 1 Haas team driver, and his father were included on a list of individuals sanctioned by the EU in early March. The sanction list described Mazepin Sr. as “a member of the closest circle of Vladimir Putin” saying he and 36 other ”businesspeople” met with Putin and other government officials to discuss how sanctions would affect Russia. In early March, Mazepin Sr. sold his controlling stake in Uralchem Group, one of the largest producers of nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers in Russia, and resigned as CEO from Uralchem JSC, a subsidiary, according to a company statement .

April 7, 2022

Assets  linked to    sanctioned russians   valued at $7.83 billion in switzerland.

Switzerland has so far frozen 7.5 billion Swiss francs (about $7.83 billion) of sanctioned Russian assets, according to a State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) spokesperson. The number of frozen assets increased from March 24, when 5.75 billion Swiss francs (about $6.18 billion) were initially frozen. Frozen assets include 11 properties throughout Switzerland. No identifiable information was revealed and no specific assets were mentioned in the initial statement. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Switzerland broke from traditional neutrality and adopted EU sanctions.

April 5, 2022

Assets  linked to    sanctioned russians   valued at $3 billion in belgium.

Belgian authorities have frozen $3 billion in Russian assets and blocked $215 billion in transactions since the start of economic sanctions, according to Belgian Minister of Finance Vincent Van Peteghem. The frozen assets belong to 877 individuals and 62 entities on the European sanctions list, according to the statement from the Belgian Finance Ministry. The blocked transactions are the result of other restrictions imposed by the European Union on Russia.

April 4, 2022

“tango”  linked to    viktor vekselberg   valued at $90 million in mallorca, spain.

Spanish authorities seized a superyacht named “Tango,” which they say is owned by Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg in Mallorca, according to a statement from the Spanish Civil Guard. The detained yacht was part of an operation with US federal agents and was carried out under a Spanish court order, the statement said. Vekselberg runs the Russian investment company Renova Group. He is worth approximately $16.5 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. He was sanctioned by the United States and is “under investigation for tax fraud, money laundering and document forgery trying to hide the ownership of this superyacht to avoid sanctions” and is “very close to (Russian President) Vladimir Putin,” the Spanish Civil Guard said. Vekselberg’s case marks the first seizure for the newly formed US task force, KleptoCapture. The yacht is 78 meters long (about 256 feet) and is valued at nearly $90 million, per the US Department of Justice.

March 29, 2022

“phi”  linked to    a russian businessman   valued at $50 million in london, england.

The United Kingdom detained the “Phi” yacht belonging to an unnamed-Russian businessman with ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian regime, according to the UK Department for Transport. The Dutch-built vessel is docked in East London’s Canary Wharf for the superyacht awards, and was planning to depart March 29. The Department of Transport claims that the ownership of the boat was “deliberately well hidden.” It sails under the Maltese flag and is registered to a company based in the Caribbean islands of St. Kitts and Nevis. The 192-foot yacht is worth approximately £38 million (about $50 million).

March 23, 2022

Assets  linked to    sanctioned russians   valued at $800 million in france.

French authorities have frozen assets linked to sanctioned Russian oligarchs valued at $800 million, according to French government spokesperson Gabriel Attal. The European Union’s latest round of sanctions in early March against Russia included measures targeting 160 oligarchs and Russian politicians. “There will be no taboo if we need to go further,” Attal said about any additional sanctions.

March 22, 2022

Assets  linked to    sanctioned russians   valued at $431 million in the netherlands.

The Netherlands has frozen nearly 392 million euros (about $431 million) in Russian assets, the Dutch Ministry of Finance told parliament in a letter seen by CNN. The ministry said that further asset freezes were expected. The European Union’s latest round of sanctions in early March against Russia included measures targeting 160 oligarchs and Russian politicians.

March 21, 2022

“axioma”  linked to    dmitry pumpyansky   valued at $75 million in gibraltar.

Authorities in Gibraltar have detained the “Axioma” yacht linked to Russian billionaire Dmitry Pumpyansky, according to UK and Gibraltar government statements. Pumpyansky was sanctioned by the EU and UK and was the beneficiary of TMK PAO, Russia’s largest oil and gas steel pipe maker. He also resigned from the TMK PAO’s board of directors, the company announced . The 240-foot yacht is worth approximately $75 million, according to SuperYachtFan . Gibraltar’s ports had been closed to sanctioned individuals, but the Captain of the Port made an exception after JPMorgan Chase was granted a court order authorizing the seizure. “JPMorgan is acting pursuant to its mortgage rights,” the Gibraltar government said in a statement to CNN. JPMorgan Chase, the largest bank in the United States, said in a statement in early March it was getting out of Russia following the invasion of Ukraine, citing “compliance with directives by governments around the world.”

March 18, 2022

Real estate  linked to    alexey mordaschov   valued at $116 million in sardinia, italy.

The Italian financial police seized a real estate complex belonging to Russian billionaire Alexey Mordaschov in Sardinia, according to Italy’s Prime Minister’s office. Mordaschov is the chairman of Russian mining and steel company Severstal and is one of Russia’s richest men, worth $18.5 billion, according to Forbes . The frozen real estate is worth around 105 million euros (about $116 million), per Ferdinando Giugliano, the media advisor to the Italian Prime Minister. On March 4, Mordaschov’s yacht, named “Lady M” was also seized in Italy. The 213-foot yacht is worth approximately 65 million euros (about $71 million).

March 16, 2022

“crescent”  linked to    an unknown owner   valued at $600 million in tarragona, spain.

Spanish authorities have detained a superyacht, named “Crescent” in the port of Tarragona, according to a statement from Spain’s Ministry for Transport. The 135-meter yacht flies a Cayman Islands flag and has been “provisionally detained” to establish whether it is the possession of a person or entity included in the European Council’s package of sanctions, the statement said. The yacht cost approximately $600 million, according to SuperYachtFan.

Real estate  linked to    Petr Aven   valued at $4.4 million in Sardinia, Italy

The Italian financial police froze a real estate complex belonging partially to Russian oligarch Petr Aven in Sardinia, according to a statement issued by Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s press office. The share of real estate is worth approximately 4 million euros (about $4.4 million), according to the Italian Prime Minister’s office. The billionaire stepped down earlier this month as Director of Russian private bank Alfa Bank and from the board of the investment firm he co-founded, LetterOne, after being sanctioned by the EU and UK . The European Union named Aven as “one of Vladimir Putin’s closest oligarchs,” who “regularly meet” with the Russian President in the Kremlin, and “does not operate independently of the President’s demands.”

Real estate and vehicles  linked to    Alisher Usmanov   valued at $72 million in Italy

Real estate assets and six corporate vehicles belonging to Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov were seized by the Italian financial police. The seized assets are worth approximately 66 million euros (about $72 million). Usmanov is one of Russia’s wealthiest billionaires with vast domestic and international holdings. The US government sanctioned him in early March in a campaign targeting Putin’s allies, stating he is alleged to have financial ties to Putin. Italy’s financial police had previously seized his real estate in the Golfo del Pevero area in Arzachena on March 4. Those assets are worth approximately 17 million euros (about $18 million).

March 15, 2022

“lady anastasia”  linked to    alexander mikheev   valued at $7 million in palma de mallorca, spain.

Spanish authorities have detained a yacht linked to Russian oligarch Alexander Mikheev, named “Lady Anastasia,” in the port of Palma de Mallorca, according to the Spanish Ministry of Transport. Mikheev is the CEO of Rosoboronexport, the only state organization in Russia that exports weapons and was sanctioned by the EU and the US. The yacht is nearly 48 meters (157 feet) long and was in the news in late February, when a crew member tried to sink the vessel in retaliation for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The yacht is worth approximately $7 million, according to a listing on BOAT International.

“Valerie”  linked to    Sergei Chemezov   valued at $140 million in Barcelona, Spain

Spanish authorities seized the “Valerie” yacht reportedly linked to Russian oligarch and former KGB agent Sergei Chemezov in the port of Barcelona, according to Reuters . Chemezov is the chairman of the Rostec conglomerate and a member of the Supreme Council of ‘United Russia’, per EU sanctions . When the US sanctioned Chemezov in 2014 — as part of an effort targeting Putin’s inner circle — the government said he had known Putin since the 1980s and the two lived in the same apartment complex in East Germany. The yacht is worth approximately $140 million and will remain “provisionally immobilized” until authorities can determine its ownership. A spokesman for Chemezov denied that he is tied to the yacht.

March 11, 2022

“sailing yacht a”  linked to    andrey melnichenko   valued at $577 million in trieste, italy.

The Italian financial police seized “Sailing Yacht A” — which could be linked to Russian fertilizer and coal billionaire Andrey Melnichenko — in the port of Trieste, according to Ferdinando Giugliano, the media advisor to the Italian Prime Minister. Melnichenko was sanctioned by the EU on March 9 and has since removed himself from the boards of two companies he founded, Eurochem and SUEK, according to his spokesman Alex Andreev in a statement to CNN. At 469 feet long, the vessel is also the world’s tallest sailing yacht — taller than the Statue of Liberty — and is worth approximately 530 million euros (about $577 million).

March 4, 2022

“villa lazzareschi”  linked to    oleg savchenko   valued at $3.3 million in lucca, italy.

A 17th century villa allegedly owned by Oleg Savchenko, named “Villa Lazzareschi,” was seized by Italian financial police in the province of Lucca, according to a police statement . Savchenko is a member of the State Duma and was sanctioned by the EU. The seized Italian villa is worth approximately 3 million euros (about $3.3 million).

Real estate  linked to    Vladimir Soloviev   valued at $8.7 million in Como, Italy

Real estate properties belonging to Vladimir Soloviev were seized by the Italian financial police in the province of Como, according to a police statement . Soloviev is a Russian pro-Kremlin propagandist and TV/radio journalist, according to EU Council sanctions . The frozen Italian real estate is worth approximately 8 million euros (about $8.7 million).

Real estate  linked to    Alisher Usmanov   valued at $18 million in Arzachena, Italy

A real estate compendium belonging to Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov was seized by the Italian financial police in the Golfo del Pevero area in Arzachena, according to a statement . The frozen Italian real estate is worth approximately 17 million euros (about $18 million).

Usmanov is one of Russia’s wealthiest billionaires with vast domestic and international holdings, according to the US Treasury. The US government sanctioned him in early March in a campaign targeting Putin’s allies, stating he is alleged to have financial ties to Putin. The US said it sanctioned his private jet and his 512-foot superyacht named “Dilbar.”

“Lena”  linked to    Gennady Timchenko   valued at $55 million in San Remo, Italy

The Italian financial police seized Russian billionaire Gennady Timchenko’s yacht, named “Lena,” in the port of San Remo, according to a police statement . Timchenko is the owner of private investment group, Volga Group. He was sanctioned by the EU in February. When the US government sanctioned Timchenko in 2014, an effort targeting Putin’s inner circle, they stated his “activities in the energy sector have been directly linked to Putin.” The 126-foot yacht is worth approximately 50 million euros (about $55 million).

“Lady M”  linked to    Alexey Mordaschov   valued at $71 million in Imperia, Italy

The Italian financial police seized Russian billionaire Alexey Mordaschov’s yacht, named “Lady M,” in the northern port of Imperia, according to a police statement . Mordaschov is the chairman of Russian mining and steel company Severstal and is one of Russia’s richest men, worth $18.5 billion, according to Forbes . The 213-foot yacht is worth approximately 65 million euros (about $71 million).

March 3, 2022

“amore vero”  linked to    igor sechin   valued at $120 million in la ciotat, france.

French authorities seized a yacht linked to Igor Sechin in the Mediterranean port of La Ciotat, according to the French Finance Ministry . Sechin is the CEO of Rosneft, the Russian state oil company and one of the world’s largest crude oil producers. The yacht, named “Amore Vero” — or “True Love” in Italian — was scheduled to leave the port on April 1 after arriving in January. Sechin was deputy prime minister of Russia from 2008 until 2012. The European Union said his connections to Putin are “long and deep,” with the two men maintaining daily contact. The yacht is worth about $120 million, according to SuperYachtFan. A Sechin spokesman denied that he is tied to the yacht.

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A Russian businessman's $50 million superyacht was seized by the UK after mooring in London for an awards ceremony, government says

• The UK government said it seized a Russian-owned, $50 million superyacht on Tuesday.
• The yacht Phi is registered to a Caribbean firm and carried a Maltese flag "to hide its origins," UK crime agency said.
• The government opened an investigation after it was identified as potentially being Russian on March 13.

A Russian-owned, $50 million superyacht was seized by the United Kingdom on Tuesday, the government said.

It's the first superyacht to be detained in UK waters, according to the National Crime Agency, which worked with the government to detain the ship.

The 192-foot vessel, called Phi, was detained by authorities in Canary Wharf, a business district in east London, according to a government statement sent to Insider. Phi was in London for a superyacht awards ceremony and was planning to set sail at midday on Tuesday, the government said.

The UK government didn't reveal the name of the owner – apart from mentioning the person was a Russian businessman and saying that the yacht, valued at £38 million ($49.9 million), was impounded as part of sanctions against Russia.

The NCA said in a statement on Tuesday that Phi's owner was "deliberately well hidden" and the person hadn't been sanctioned by the UK.

Related stories

According to documents seen by The Financial Times on Tuesday, the yacht is owned by Vitaly Vasilievich Kochetkov, the founder of mobile network Motiv Telecom. 

Motiv Telecom didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Kochetkov also owns two other superyachts, Aurelia and Phi Phantom, per the documents seen by the FT. These yachts are both docked in the port of Imperia in Italy, a person familiar with the matter confirmed to Insider.

The NCA said Phi was registered to a company based in Saint Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean, and it carried a Maltese flag "to hide its origins."

—Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) March 29, 2022

Phi was initially identified as potentially being Russian on March 13, the government said, adding that a subsequent investigation resulted in the yacht being seized.

The superyacht, built by Dutch boat builder Royal Huisman, can accommodate a total of 23 guests and crew, according to SuperYacht Times . It has a fresh-water swimming pool and a wine cellar, the UK government said.

"Today we've detained a £38m superyacht and turned an icon of Russia's power and wealth into a clear and stark warning to Putin and his cronies," UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said in the statement.

"Detaining the Phi , proves, yet again, that we can and will take the strongest possible action against those seeking to benefit from Russian connections," Shapps added.

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UK seizes first Russian yacht as more sanctions on oligarchs take hold

• War in Europe
• Tuesday 29 March 2022 at 1:35pm

The UK has seized its first Russian super yacht as part of sanctions against Russia, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced.

UK officials boarded Phi - owned by a Russian businessman - in Canary Wharf, east London on Tuesday. The vessel is the first to be detained in the UK under sanctions imposed because of the war in Ukraine.

Mr Shapps said: "Today we've detained a £38 million superyacht and turned an icon of Russia's power and wealth into a clear and stark warning to Putin and his cronies.

"Detaining the Phi proves, yet again, that we can and will take the strongest possible action against those seeking to benefit from connections to Putin's regime."

Phi - named after the mathematical concept - made her maiden voyage last year after being built in the Netherlands. She is 58.5 metres long and features what is described as an "infinite wine cellar" and a freshwater swimming pool.

The vessel was in London for a superyacht awards ceremony and was due to depart at noon on Tuesday.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said it worked with the National Crime Agency and the Border Force Maritime Investigation Bureau to identify and detain the vessel.

It refused to reveal the name of her owner, stating that he is "a Russian businessman", describing Phi's ownership as "deliberately well hidden".

The DfT said it is "looking at a number of other vessels" and hopes its "strong stance sends an example to international partners".

The UK has already sanctioned more than 1,000 Russian individuals and entities since Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine, which has since seen thousands killed.

The measures are designed to starve the Russian leader of finances to fund his war machine in a bid to slow the invasion, which is said to have repeatedly stalled due to numerous setbacks.

All those sanctions are subject to a travel ban, meaning they cannot enter or leave Britain, and will have their UK assets frozen.

More general sanctions already imposed against Russia have banned all Russian ships from using UK ports and any Russian aircraft from using British airspace.

The yacht on Tuesday is thought to be the first seized by the UK under its Russian sanctions regime, with critics accusing the government of being behind the EU in holding assets.

French authorities seized a Russian super yacht owned by Igor Sechin, boss of Russian state energy company Rosneft, at the start of March and days later Italy seized a super yacht belonging to Russian oligarch Andrey Igorevich Melnichenko.

The UK had been under pressure for some time to seize the £460 million yacht owned by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, however, it has been photographed docking in Turkey, where the oligarch is as he negotiates with Ukraine on behalf of Russia as both sides attempt to find agreement to end the war.

Nato leaders agreed last week at an emergency meeting to toughen Western sanctions against Russia.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss told MPs on Monday that sanctions are "pushing back the Russian economy by years and we owe it to the brave Ukrainians to keep up our tough approach to get peace".

In the Commons, she said: "Through tougher sanctions to debilitate the Russian economy, supplying weapons to Ukraine and boosting Nato's eastern flank, providing humanitarian aid and dealing with the wider consequences of this crisis and supporting Ukraine in any negotiations they undertake.

"Strength is the only thing Putin understands. Our sanctions are pushing back the Russian economy by years and we owe it to the brave Ukrainians to keep up our tough approach to get peace.

"We owe it ourselves to stand with them for the cause of freedom and democracy in Europe and across the world. It is vital we step up this pressure, we cannot wait for more appalling atrocities to be committed in Ukraine."

News | London

UK seizes superyacht of unknown Russian businessman docked in London

A superyacht believed to be owned by a Russian businessman has been seized by UK authorities, Grant Shapps has confirmed.

The superyacht, known as Phi, was boarded by UK authorities in Canary Wharf , where it was docked on Tuesday.

The Transport Secretary said the yacht is reportedly valued at £38million and had been in London for an awards ceremony.

The 58.5 metre vessel contains a freshwater swimming pool and a wine cellar and was due to leave at 12pm.

Mr Shapps said: "Today we’ve detained a £38 million superyacht and turned an icon of Russia’s power and wealth into a clear and stark warning to Putin and his cronies.

"Detaining the Phi proves, yet again, that we can and will take the strongest possible action against those seeking to benefit from connections to Putin’s regime."

The Department for Transport (DfT) said it worked with the National Crime Agency and the Border Force Maritime Investigation Bureau to identify and detain the vessel.

The name of the Russian businessman linked to the yacht is unknown but the vessel is believed to be registered to a company based in Saint Kitts and Nevis.

The DfT said it will look into more vessels to detain as part of the UK’s sanctions programme against Russian businessmen with links to Vladimir Putin.

Mr Shapps added: “Now the ship is being held, it won’t be going anywhere.

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"It was here for refit, won’t be going anywhere, and it’s just another indication that we will not stand by whilst Putin’s cronies are allowed to sail around the world in these kinds of yachts and people in Ukraine are suffering.

"When you see what he’s doing to Ukraine, when you see what he’s doing to people’s lives, it can’t be right to have a yacht like this here in London, able to just sail away and that is why we’ve impounded it, and denied it ability to go anywhere right now, and it’s another indication of how seriously we take these matters."

Last week the UK announced a further 65 new sanctions against Russian individuals and entities.

The Government has now sanctioned more than 1,000 individuals and entities following the invasion of Ukraine.

Among those most recently sanctioned were individuals linked to the Wagner Group, a mercenary organisation and Polina Kovaleva, the Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov’s stepdaughter, who reportedly owns a £4m house in London.

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Here are the superyachts seized from Russian oligarchs

As part of an international pressure campaign on Russia, authorities from around the world have seized more than a half-dozen superyachts belonging to billionaire oligarchs allied with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The yacht seizures since the Feb. 24 invasion are "just the beginning," White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters in March, as an international task force worked to identify further assets that can be seized or frozen.

“The Justice Department will be relentless in our efforts to hold accountable those who facilitate the death and destruction we are witnessing in Ukraine,” U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said of the ongoing efforts in May.

Here are the superyachts government officials have seized since Russia invaded Ukraine last month.

The Justice Department announced May 5 that the Fijian government had seized billionaire oligarch Suleiman Kerimov 's 348-foot yacht Amadea. The vessel, which is valued at more than $300 million , arrived in Fiji last month. Kerimov, who's worth an estimated $14 billion and has ties to the Russian government, was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department over alleged money laundering in 2018.

Special features on the sprawling yacht include a helipad, infinity pool, a jacuzzi and multiple bars, according to a report in Boat International . It can accommodate 16 overnight guests in addition to 36 crew members, the report said.

In April, Spanish law-enforcement officials seized a 255-foot yacht called the Tango, which Justice Department says is owned by oligarch Viktor Vekselberg. Vekselberg is an aluminum magnate who the Treasury Department says has close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Tango is worth an estimated $90 million, prosecutors said , and Vekselberg allegedly purchased it through shell companies. The 11-year-old yacht has seven staterooms and reportedly includes amenities such as a pool, gym and beauty salon .

Authorities in Italy seized a 215-foot superyacht called the Lady M this month. It's owned by Alexei Mordashov, Russia's richest businessman, and it’s estimated to be worth $27 million . The vessel, which requires a crew of 14, has six guest cabins , a pool and a gym.

But it pales in comparison to another of Mordashov's yachts, the $500 million Nord . The 464-foot vessel, which has two helipads and a waterfall and can accommodate 36 guests, was anchored this month in the Seychelles, where the U.S. and European Union sanctions don’t apply.

Italian officials also seized the 132-foot superyacht Lena, owned by the energy magnate Gennady Timchenko. Estimated to be worth $8 million, it has five cabins and can accommodate 10 guests.

SY A — short for Sailing Yacht A — is one of the world's largest superyachts. Valued at over $440 million, the 469-foot vessel, owned by the fertilizer magnate Andrey Melnichenko, has eight decks, multiple elevators, an underwater observation area and the world's tallest masts . It was seized in the Italian port of Trieste.

Authorities in Spain seized Sergei Chemezov's Valerie, a 279-foot superyacht that had been moored in Barcelona. Chemezov , a former KGB officer, heads the state conglomerate Rostec. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez touted the seizure on La Sexta television. “We are talking about a yacht that we estimate is worth $140 million,” Sanchez said.

Officials in France announced this month that they had seized the 289-foot Amore Vero, which was undergoing repairs in a shipyard near Marseille. When they arrived, authorities said, they found the crew preparing for an urgent departure, even though the repair work was scheduled to last through April. The $120 million boat, which has seven cabins , is linked to Igor Sechin, described by the U.S. Treasury Department as a close ally of Putin's.

Dareh Gregorian is a politics reporter for NBC News.