Putin's yacht, equipped with anti-drone protection, was spotted en route to the Arctic
The superyacht Graceful (Kosatka), which is linked to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, is likely heading to the Russian port of Murmansk. According to media reports, the vessel is being escorted by military ships, and special anti-drone nets have been installed on it for additional protection against possible drone attacks.
The Graceful is sailing along the Norwegian coast, heading for the port of Murmansk—the main port in the Arctic basin.
The vessel is sailing under the escort of two Russian naval ships. It is accompanied by the heavily armed Russian Class I destroyer *Severomorsk*, as well as the 7,500-metric-ton Russian rescue and patrol vessel *Voevoda*.
A high-ranking NATO source told The Telegraph that Alliance countries are closely monitoring this convoy. Patrol ships from the German and Danish navies escorted the vessels as they traveled through the Baltic Sea.
The yacht Graceful, also known as “Kosatka,” is over 80 meters long and 20 meters wide. Forbes reported that it is valued at $119 million. Russian opposition figures claimed that it belongs to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The vessel is equipped with saltwater and freshwater pools, a helipad, a gym, and secure government communications systems.
The yacht was prudently moved from the Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany, to the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad 17 days before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Four months later, the U.S. designated the yacht as blocked property subject to sanctions. The vessel was then renamed “Kosatka.”
From at least August 30, 2022, until recently, the yacht’s transponder was turned off. During its most recent movements, the vessel’s automatic identification system transmitted its movements through the Danube Strait before disappearing after entering the North Sea.
But the escort vessel “Voevoda” continued to broadcast its location as it headed north along the coast of Norway. The convoy is believed to be passing the northern city of Tromsø before finally docking in Murmansk.
The Telegraph reports this, citing maritime intelligence data and satellite imagery.
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