Oligarchs set sail: Billionaires' superyachts flee to international safe havens like the Maldives as West tightens sanctions - and Boris Johnson warns: 'I think their silence is inexplicable'

 Oligarchs are sailing their yachts to international safe havens like the Maldives as the West tightens sanctions for the invasion of Ukraine - as Boris Johnson said: 'I think their silence is inexplicable'. 

A luxury yacht belonging to a US-sanctioned billionaire reached the Maldives today, according to officials, with more Russian-owned boats reportedly headed to the Indian Ocean archipelago seeking safe haven from possible asset seizures. Multiple international sanctions have been imposed on Russia in the wake of its invasion of neighbouring Ukraine, raising the prospect of confiscation of yachts belonging to its billionaires, several of whom are close to President Vladimir Putin.

The state-run Maldives Ports Limited confirmed that the pleasure craft Clio, holding the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) registration 9312535, dropped anchor near the capital Male on Monday.

The Cayman Islands-registered vessel is owned by aluminum tycoon Oleg Deripaska, who was sanctioned by the United States in 2018. A total of 20,973 Russians visited the Maldives in January, the largest single group, while Ukrainians were sixth with 7,210.

A CNBC report said at least two other vessels owned by Russian oligarchs were heading to the Maldives, which has no extradition treaty with the United States. Maldives Ports also confirmed to AFP that the superyacht Titan, holding IMO number 1010478 and owned by steel magnate Alexander Abramov, was anchored in Male.

These are the locations of yachts owned by major Russian oligarchs based on the latest available information

These are the locations of yachts owned by major Russian oligarchs based on the latest available information 

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich's $1billion Eclipse is believed to be in the Caribbean. This picture shows it off the coast of Turkey in 2014

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich's $1billion Eclipse is believed to be in the Caribbean. This picture shows it off the coast of Turkey in 2014

Abramovich has a second yacht, Solaris, which cost $600m, and is currently in Barcelona. This photo shows it during early sea trials in Germany

Abramovich has a second yacht, Solaris, which cost $600m, and is currently in Barcelona. This photo shows it during early sea trials in Germany 

Abramovich was urged to publicly denounce the Russian invasion of Ukraine today amid questions over his claims to be involved in brokering a peace deal

Abramovich was urged to publicly denounce the Russian invasion of Ukraine today amid questions over his claims to be involved in brokering a peace deal

Pictured is the $110m Plvs Vltra, reported to belong to Gazprom's boss Anatoly Kozeruk, docked in Gibraltar last night

Pictured is the $110m Plvs Vltra, reported to belong to Gazprom's boss Anatoly Kozeruk, docked in Gibraltar last night

It came as Britain targeted Russian oligarchs and their opulent yachts today with a ban preventing all Russian shipping from using UK ports. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps made the move amid concern about a Russian oil tanker scheduled to dock in Orkney on Tuesday.

Boris Johnson was today asked what he thought of the failure of most Russian oligarchs to speak out against the war on Ukraine. 

In response, he told ITV: 'I think that their silence is inexplicable, and I think that people need to step up and denounce this act of aggression, and those oligarchs who have connections with the Putin regime and who are benefiting from their association with the Russian state, we are going to expose and distrain their assets.'

Mr Shapps his ban on 'all ships with ANY Russian connection whatsoever' means that Russian oligarchs with pleasure ships costing tens or even hundreds of millions of pounds will be unable to call here.

Mr Shapps wrote on Twitter: 'At London's Foreign Office where we've just become the first nation to pass a law involving a total BAN of ALL ships with ANY Russian connection whatsoever from entering British ports.

'Please RT to encourage all countries to do the same in support of the people of Ukraine.' It came as it was revealed the West is still paying Russia more than $1billion-a-day for oil and gas that Putin can use to subsidise his $15billion-a-day invasion of Ukraine as his troops remain bogged down after hitting fierce resistance from Volodymyr Zelensky's heroes.

Last night Shell said it will ditch its work with Gazprom and pull out of the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline as Western powers reel from President Putin's warmongering in Eastern Europe. Shell is said to have offered £600m of finance for the project.

Shell warned that it could take a £2.2billion hit as it laid out a plan to exit a series of projects. These include its 27.5pc stake in Sakhalin 2 – a flagship facility in the Russian Far East that is majority-owned by Gazprom and produces around 4pc of the world's liquefied natural gas.

But it did not announce who they would sell their stakes to. It isn't quitting Russia altogether, however. It has a network of around 400 petrol stations and a lubricants business in the country which it said it intends to keep.

Shell's announcement came a day after BP said that it was cutting ties with Kremlin-backed oil company Rosneft, valued at around £13billion last year. BP is now looking to offload its 19.75pc stake in Rosneft and current boss Bernard Looney has stepped down from the board.

But Putin's grip on the world's oil and gas taps means that Europe and the US are still buying almost $1billion-a-day from Russia. The UK also imports smaller amounts from Russia.

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