Another yacht linked to Putin is heading for Turkey
Another yacht has left Russia; investigators link it to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Alina Kabaeva. The Victoria has already passed through the Bosphorus and is heading to the Turkish resort of Bodrum, while another yacht—the Graceful—had previously set course for Turkey.
Another luxury yacht, which investigative journalists link to Russian President Vladimir Putin, has left Russian territorial waters. This was reported by the “Dossier” Center and the publication “Versтка,” citing data from the MarineTraffic service. The yacht in question is the 71-meter-long Victoria. According to journalists, it departed from the Krasnodar Krai on June 26, then passed through the Bosphorus Strait and headed for Turkey.
On June 28–29, the vessel was anchored near Pendik in Istanbul. After that, the yacht changed course and set sail for the popular resort town of Bodrum, where, according to the vessel tracking service, it is expected to arrive shortly. According to the “Dossier” center, the yacht Victoria is allegedly used by Vladimir Putin and Alina Kabaeva. Formally, the vessel is owned by entities linked to Russian billionaire Gennady Timchenko, who is considered one of the Russian president’s closest associates.
Investigators note that the yacht is based in Sochi and regularly made trips to Cape Idokopas, where the so-called “Putin Palace” is located. One of the journalists’ sources also claimed that Alina Kabaeva frequently used the yacht along with her inner circle. The value of the Victoria, according to 2023 estimates, is approximately $50 million.
This is the second yacht to have left Russia for Turkey in recent days. The day before, journalists reported on the movement of the 82-meter Graceful, which is also linked to Putin. According to investigators, the Graceful activated its transponder for the first time since 2022 while in the Baltic Sea between the coasts of Germany and Denmark. However, after information about its route appeared in the media, the vessel once again stopped transmitting data on its location.
According to MarineTraffic, the Graceful is currently heading toward Turkey. To reach Istanbul, the yacht will have to sail around nearly all of Europe. It is expected to arrive there on July 12. According to the “Dossier” Center, the Graceful is being escorted by a Russian destroyer and the rescue vessel “Voevoda.”
After the start of the full-scale war against Ukraine, the Graceful was subject to U.S. sanctions. The vessel later changed its name to “Kosatka.” Prior to the invasion, the yacht was undergoing repairs at a shipyard in Hamburg, Germany. Journalists estimate its value at around $100 million. The “Dossier” Center also notes that both yachts were built at the Sevmash shipyard.
According to investigators’ estimates, a total of nine yachts are linked to Vladimir Putin. Among them are the Graceful, Victoria, “Chaika,” Shellest, Aldoga, Nega, Olympia, Orion, and Scheherazade. Scheherazade is considered the most expensive of them all, with an estimated value of more than 580 million euros.
At the same time, the Kremlin has repeatedly denied reports that Vladimir Putin owns or uses these vessels. However, investigative journalists continue to link the yachts to the Russian president, citing their own sources, documents, and data on the vessels’ routes. This is reported by Russian media.
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