Italy Seizes 900 Billion Won Yacht Suspected of Ties to Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin is giving a speech at the Saint Petersburg City Council, the country's second-largest city, on the 27th of last month (local time). In his speech, President Putin stated, "If anyone from outside tries to intervene in the situation in Ukraine and creates a strategic threat unacceptable to Russia, the response will be decisive."

The Italian government ordered the seizure of a luxury yacht suspected to be linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the 6th (local time).

According to major foreign media including AFP, the Italian Ministry of Finance issued a statement on the day, revealing that the owner of the yacht Scheherazade, located at the western Marina di Carrara port, was found to be connected to prominent figures of the Russian government and individuals subject to European Union (EU) sanctions, and announced the seizure.

The yacht is valued at approximately $700 million (about 890 billion KRW), making it one of the most expensive yachts in the world. It is a six-story vessel equipped with two helicopter landing pads, a swimming pool, and a movie theater. It can accommodate up to 40 crew members and 18 passengers.

The Ministry of Finance did not specify the owner of the yacht, and the identity of the owner remains unclear. However, it explained that it requested the EU to add the yacht's owner to the sanctions list and ordered the seizure of the yacht until a decision is made.

The Anti-Corruption Foundation, established by opposition figure Alexei Navalny, a political rival of President Putin, claimed that the real owner of the yacht is President Putin and had urged Italian authorities to seize it.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.