The superyacht Graceful, which is linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin, was urgently moved from the Hamburg port to Kaliningrad a month before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine was launched, even though it was meant to remain there for another year for renovations, Russian opposition politician Alexey Navalny’s associates discovered.
Yacht Graceful. Photo: Navalny’s associates
The investigators found out that the yacht was hauled to Kaliningrad in 12 days in January 2022 along with crewmembers, “as much equipment, putty, and paints as possible”.
They believe that Putin “knew full well that he’ll be the first whose assets will be sanctioned and frozen due to the war”. Navalny’s associates put the yacht price at $100 million. In 2022, $30 million was spent on it following the invasion of Ukraine.
Yacht Graceful. Photo: Navalny’s associates
Yacht Graceful. Photo: Navalny’s associates
Yacht Graceful. Photo: Navalny’s associates
According to the official reports and photos published by the investigators, Graceful has a helipad, a 25-metre swimming pool, two bedrooms, and a gym. The team did not clarify the origins of these documents.
Yacht Graceful. Photo: Navalny’s associates
In June 2022, Graceful was targeted by US sanctions. The US Treasury qualified the vessel as an asset in which Putin has an interest. At the same time. Estonian, Italian, Turkish, and UAE companies continued to service the yacht irrespective of the sanctions.
