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Spain seizes three superyachts in sanctions crackdown after crew member from Ukraine sabotages boat

This photograph taken on March 15, 2022 shows the 48m long, St Vincent and the Grenadines-flagged yacht "Lady Anastasia" moored at a dock in Puerto Adriano in Calvia, on the island of Mallorca. - Spanish authorities seized a second yacht in the Balearic archipelago on March 15, and are seeking to prove that it belongs to a Russian oligarch targeted by European sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine, the Ministry of Transport announced. (Photo by JAIME REINA / AFP) (Photo by JAIME REINA/AFP via Getty Images)

The Lady Anastasia, owned by Alexander Mikheyev, who is the head of weapon exporting group Rosoboronexport, was seized at Port Adriano in Mallorca, Spain’s transport ministry said on Tuesday.

Taras Ostapchuk, 55, a Ukrainian sailor who worked on the yacht, last month reportedly caused extensive damage to the £5.9m vessel by opening up its valves and causing it to partly sink.

He was said to have been furious that arms shipped by the yacht’s owner were allegedly used to attack his country. He was arrested but later left Spain to fight for Ukraine.

On Monday, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez had announced the seizure of superyacht Valerie in Barcelona and promised “more would follow”, in an indication that Madrid was complying with a European Union crackdown on Russian oligarchs who are close to Mr Putin.

As well as parading their superyachts in the ports of Barcelona, Mallorca, and Puerto Banús, near Marbella, Russia’s super-rich have spent millions of pounds buying properties in the most exclusive parts of Spain. Mr Putin has denied rumours that he bought properties on the Costa del Sol in a deal allegedly arranged by the head of a Russian crime syndicate.

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