Since Russia invaded Ukraine, more than 15 wow-factor superyachts worth over $3.8 billion (£3.2bn) in total have been impounded as Western governments move to freeze and seize assets belonging to President Putin and his cronies.

As heat maps reveals that Russian oligarchs have been steering their superyachts away from American waters to avoid sanctions, read on for the list of expropriated vessels from the least to most valuable. All dollar values in US dollars.

Western governments haven't been pulling any punches when it comes to seizing the assets of Russia's corrupt elite. President Biden even went as far as to issue a warning to the nation's oligarchs during his 2022 State of the Union Address, vowing to come for their "ill-begotten gains," including superyachts such as New Vogue.

Completed in 2007 by Turkey's Peri Yachts, the 108-foot vessel, which boasts four plush bedrooms, an indoor Jacuzzi and other high-end touches, was impounded on 1 April 2023 in Italy's Porto di Imperia following a month-long investigation into its mystery owner. The unnamed oligarch had actually been trying to sell the superyacht, which was on the market for $3.3 million (£2.8m).

The very Russian-sounding Lady Anastasia is the most venerable superyacht to have been seized by the Western authorities. Built in 2001 by New Zealand firm Sensation Yachts and refitted in 2010, the 154-foot vessel enjoyed a relatively quiet existence until this year. For starters, in February 2022 the vessel's Ukrainian chief engineer Taras Ostapchuk attempted to sink the yacht.

The crew member sabotaged the $7 million (£5.9m) superyacht to exact revenge on its oligarch owner Alexander Mikheev – chief executive of the Russian weapons firm Rosoboronexport – for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, seriously damaging the engine room. Then around a fortnight later on 15 March 2022, Spanish law enforcement moved to seal off the vessel (pictured to the right in this shot), which was moored in Mallorca's Port Adriano, after EU sanctions were levied on Mikheev.

One of the newest superyachts in our round-up, the streamlined Phi by Dutch shipyard Royal Huisman was delivered in December 2021. Spanning 191 feet, this ever-so-stylish vessel – the biggest motor yacht in its class – rocks all manner of impressive features, from laser lighting to an upper deck "penthouse" which its owner only got to enjoy for a few months.

On 29 March 2022, Phi, which is valued at $50 million (£39.5m), was intercepted by police in London's Canary Wharf docks, the first seizure of a Russian superyacht in British waters. An investigation by British newspaper The Financial Times identified Vitaly Vasilievich Kochetkov, the founder of Russian mobile network Motiv Telecom, as its owner. 

Intriguingly, Kochetkov isn't on any sanctions list, which could explain why his other two superyachts, Aurelia and Phi Phantom, have yet to be confiscated. Per Bloomberg, Kochetkov claimed the UK detained his superyacht to look "tough." He sued the UK's transport department, asking the court to let him move the yacht and award him undisclosed damages, though it appears the vessel is still detained.

The handiwork of Italian yacht-builder Sanlorenzo, the 126-foot Lena set sail on its maiden voyage in 2010. Fancy features fit for the most discerning of oligarchs abound in the all-aluminium craft, including exclusive fold-down terraces that open out into the sea, and sportscar-inspired gullwing doors.

After confirming the owner as sanctioned energy magnate and Putin buddy Gennady Timchenko, Italian tax police swooped in on 4 March 2022 and seized the superyacht in the port of Sanremo near the border with France. Lena has been valued at a hefty $55 million (£46.3m) by the Italian authorities.

That same day, Italian law enforcement commandeered the Lady M superyacht docked in the port of Imperia, having estimated its value at $71 million (£59.7m). The 213-foot vessel, which was launched in 2013 at the Palmer Johnson shipyard in Wisconsin, is totally oligarch-worthy with a helipad, pool and beauty salon among its top features.

Maintaining superyachts like Lady M and Lena is becoming a significant financial burden for the Italian government. Maintenance costs, such as scraping the hulls, constantly running air conditioning, and paying for the crew, are mounting. Officials are now concerned these costs could surpass the value of the vessels.

“Our problems are the yachts,” said an Italian official. “If the war continues, the running costs could potentially exceed their actual value.”

In 2022, the Italian government allocated nearly $15 million (£11.9m) to cover urgent maintenance costs for yachts and villas. It reportedly costs around 10% of the superyacht's total value per year to maintain it.

Originally dubbed "Project Red Square," the 236-foot Axioma was constructed in 2013 by Turkey's Dunya Yachts and seriously impresses with a 3D home cinema, sauna, gym and spa infinity pool. In March 2022, the vessel was impounded by British authorities in Gibraltar after its owner, billionaire steel tycoon Dmitry Pumpyansky, fell under Western sanctions.

JP Morgan was actually behind the seizure since it had lent $22 million (£18.4m) to a firm of which Pumpyansky is a major investor. His appearance on the sanctions list represented a breach of the loan agreement and prohibited him from making any repayments, so JP Morgan filed a court order to seize the $75 million (£63m) vessel to settle the debt and the British authorities complied.

Axioma was the first confiscated Russian superyacht to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. It went on sale in Gibraltar on 23 August 2022, as part of a private auction held by the shipping group Howe Robinson with all funds going to the country's Admiralty Court. According to Superyacht Times, the vessel was bought by an anonymous bidder for $37.5 million (£29.6m), almost half its original value. Axioma was last spotted heading for Turkey in early 2023. 

The award-winning Tango was built by Feadship in the Netherlands and hit the high seas back in 2011. Fittingly, the 254-foot all-aluminium vessel was commissioned by aluminium billionaire Viktor Vekselberg. The craft's standout features, aside from its distinctive exterior styling, include a contra-flow pool, beauty salon and spa, outdoor cinema and lavishly appointed private owner's deck.

Slapped with US and UK sanctions, the oligarch, who is famed for his Fabergé egg collection, bid farewell to the superyacht on 4 April 2022 when it was held in Palma de Mallorca by Spanish police working in conjunction with the FBI and US Homeland Security. According to the Daily Beast, the US government could sell the vessel if the cost of running it becomes too expensive.

This 280-foot beauty was completed by Dutch yacht-builder Oceanco in 2013 for ex-KGB Putin ally Igor Sechin, the CEO of Russian state-owned oil company Rosneft. Initially named "St Princess Olga" after his glam, much younger second wife, the superyacht was rechristened "Amore Vero" in 2017 after she left him for a dashing Italian racing driver, resulting in the couple's acrimonious divorce.

Sechin is said to have been so enraged that he allegedly destroyed a $50 million (£42m) mansion on Moscow's Billionaires' Row commissioned for her. The sanctioned tycoon may regret the impulsive act now since his foreign assets are frozen and two of his superyachts have been confiscated, making him a whole lot poorer. The $120 million (£100.8m) Amore Vero was the first to be impounded. Pinpointed by the French authorities, it was seized in the port of La Ciotat on 2 March 2022.

In August 2023, it was reported that although the vessel had been impounded for more than a year, Sechin was quietly paying for its repair and maintenance costs.

Similar in size and exterior styling to Amore Vero, the 279-foot Valerie was built by German shipyard Lürssen and delivered in 2011. Decorated in a chic Art Deco style and loaded with top-end amenities from a pool, Jacuzzi and steam room to a panoramic gym, the $140 million (£117.6m) superyacht was rented in the summer of 2021 by Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck at a cost of $1 million (£790k) per week.

The superyacht's owner was revealed as Sergey Chemezov in 2021's Pandora Papers exposé. Like Sechin, Chemezov served alongside Putin in the KGB and ended up helming a powerful state-owned corporation, in his case defence conglomerate Rostec. Needless to say, Chemezov was one of the first oligarchs to be sanctioned by the West and his beloved Valerie was seized by Spanish authorities in Barcelona on 15 March 2022, the same day that Lady Anastasia was held in Mallorca.

Royal Romance was completed in 2015 by Feadship. Coming in at 303 feet, the superyacht is particularly flashy, with super-ornate interiors and a large pool that flows into a waterfall. As it turns out, the vessel doesn't actually belong to a Russian entity, but its owner – Ukrainian oil and media baron-turned-politician Viktor Medvedchuk – is under heavy sanctions.

Described as Putin's best friend in Ukraine, the staunchly pro-Russian politician had his superyacht seized in Rijeka, Croatia on 16 March 2022. Accused of high treason, the shady character was taken into custody by Ukrainian police in April 2022 after escaping house arrest. Other key assets he's been relieved of include his private plane and helicopter, which have been donated to the Ukrainian armed forces.

In January, ownership of the Royal Romance was transferred to Ukraine. Ukraine officals aprroved the sale of the superyacht to the highest bidder in March, and all proceeds will go directly to Ukraine.

Measuring 290 feet and worth an estimated $300 million (£246.5m), Nirvana belongs to Vladimir Potanin, the majority owner of Russian minerals company Norilsk Nickel. This impressive superyacht was built by Oceanco and delivered in 2012. Featuring a helipad, swimming pool, and on-deck jacuzzi, the luxury vessel escaped early rounds of Western sanctions as Potanin reportedly docked it in Dubai. But as America cracked down on Russia's wealthiest residents, the nickel tycoon eventually came into the firing line...

On 15 December 2022, the US imposed sanctions on Potanin, his wife Ekaterina, and two children Ivan and Anastasia. The nation's State and Treasury department began seizing Potanin's assets, including his private investment company and Nirvana. Speaking to the Russian newspaper RBC, Potanin said: “Confiscation [of assets] is a covert or overt form of theft. It destroys the investment climate of the jurisdiction in which it occurs.” 

Another Lürssen masterpiece, Amadea was built at the firm's Rendsburg shipyard and launched in 2017. The 348-foot superyacht has all the usual oligarch-friendly features, including a helipad, mosaic-tiled pool, and movie theatre. It was snapped up in 2021 by billionaire gold magnate Suleiman Kerimov via shell companies. A close associate of Putin, the billionaire has been targeted to the hilt with Western sanctions.

After homing in on Kerimov's superyacht in the Fijian port of Lautoka, US authorities seized it on 7 May 2022. Following a month of legal wrangling, Amadea left Fiji flying an American flag and arrived in Honolulu, Hawaii on 16 June 2022, spending a few days there before docking in a Californian port. Given the jaw-dropping value of the vessel, this is quite the haul for the US Justice Department's Task Force KleptoCapture, which masterminded the seizure.

In March 2023, it was revealed that maintaining the mega-yacht was costing American taxpayers close to $1 million (£790k) per month. The Justice Department is now seeking permission to sell Amadea. However, their request to sell was complicated when lawyers for Eduard Khudainatov, a Russian bussinessman who has not been sanctioned, claimed he was the owner of the vessel and sought to take back possession.

One of the world's most recognisable superyachts, thanks to its immense size and daring Philippe Starck design, the cutting-edge Sailing Yacht A was completed by Germany's Nobiskrug in 2017 for fertiliser billionaire Andrey Melnichenko. The world's biggest sailing yacht, the vessel is a whopping 469 feet long and 300 feet high and features eight sprawling decks.

With Melnichenko on the EU sanctions list due to his links to the Kremlin, Sailing Yacht A was impounded by Italian authorities in the port of Trieste on 12 March 2022.

Estimated to be worth up to $578 million (£485.5m), it's reportedly costing the Italian government an eye-watering $275,000 (£217k) per week to maintain the pricy yacht. 

Sleek and sophisticated with its monochrome hull, the $600 million (£504m) Crescent is another floating marvel by Lürssen, which launched the 443-foot superyacht in 2019. Its most jaw-dropping features, according to SuperyachtFan, include a glass-bottomed pool, glass atrium, and retractable helicopter hangar, but the cabin décor and amenities are something of a mystery.

Thankfully, the vessel's owner isn't so mysterious. Crescent is the other, more expensive superyacht of hapless oligarch Igor Sechin. The craft requested to leave the Spanish port of Tarragona on 4 March 2022 but was denied permission and held in place. Crescent is subject to a lengthy investigation by Spain's law enforcement agencies and could even be handed over to the US government.

In June 2023, Crescent was boarded by FBI and Spanish Law Enforcement agents who proceeded to search the vessel for five hours. However, no arrests were made. 

Yet another Lürssen superyacht that has been "arrested" (to use the nautical term), the romantically named Scheherazade is OTT even by oligarch standards. Spanning 460 feet, the six-level craft has everything from two helipads, a spa, and cryotherapy chamber to a grand self-playing piano and gold-plated fixtures. It lacks an outdoor pool, however, for privacy reasons.

Launched in 2020, the $700 million ($588.1m) superyacht is believed to belong to none other than President Putin, though the vessel's official owner is former Rosneft CEO Eduard Khudainatov. It was seized by Italian law enforcement on 6 May 2022 while undergoing maintenance at Marina di Carrara on the Tuscan coast.

The world's largest superyacht by volume, the spectacular 512-foot Dilbar was built by oligarch favourite Lürssen and delivered to its owner, early Facebook investor and metals baron Alisher Usmanov, in 2016. Since outside space is limited, the cruise ship-esque vessel is all about the interior and doesn't disappoint with the biggest indoor pool of any yacht and multiple uber-luxe cabins.

With Usmanov pummelled with Western sanctions, Dilbar – which the US Treasury has valued at up to an enormous $750 million (£630.3m) – was impounded by German authorities on 13 April 2022 in Hamburg where it was being refitted. Usmanov had allegedly tried to conceal his ownership of the superyacht and was only identified as the ultimate owner following an extensive investigation.

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