Russian millionaires, billionaires, and oligarchs have been steadily suffering the consequences of the dictatorial President Vladimir Putin’s devastating and senseless war against Ukraine, as the West has effectively hammered the country with relentless, brutal sanctions that are serving to hit Russia’s richest right where it hurts.
In the days and weeks following Putin’s violent invasion and attack against Ukraine and its people, we’ve reported on numerous superyachts that have been stuck at the center of the world’s punishments for Putin’s war, one of which US officials reportedly believed may even belong to the heinous dictator, Vladimir Putin himself.
Many of Russia’s most notable figures have responded to these brutal sanctions by essentially trying to circumvent their punishment — one oligarch immediately ordered that his massive, multi-million dollar vessel be sailed to Turkey as fast as possible, in an effort to try to avoid the seizure of their superyacht, while another oligarch’s multi-million dollar boat suddenly and mysteriously “vanished” in what was undoubtedly no accident or coincidence.
Now, the Times of London reports that yet another billionaire Russian oligarch has been hit hard after his private jets were seized and indefinitely detained in connection to the ruthless sanctions, as the United Kingdom announced their vow to “crush Putin’s cronies.”
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According to the report, the UK has seized and detained two private jets linked to Eugene Shvidler, a billionaire oil tycoon and “right-hand man” of Roman Abramovich, for the foreseeable future.
Shvidler was just one of a whole slew of Russia’s richest to find his assets yanked from his hands as the UK targeted a total of 65 new individuals and entities that they’ve determined are “fuelling [Vladimir] Putin’s war machine.”
The Times of London reports that the $45 million Bombardier Global 6500 jet, registered as LX-Fly, is currently and indefinitely being detained at Farnborough airport, southern England.
In addition to the $45 million Bombardier Global aircraft, Shvidler’s $13 million Cessna Citation Latitude jet has also been seized and detained.
Earlier this month, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps signed new legislation into law that allowed the government to formally seize any aircraft belonging to Russian citizens and effectively made it a criminal offense for any Russian oligarch or billionaire that has been personally hit by the sanctions to move or fly their aircraft.
According to the report, officials are still under deliberation as to what they will do with the two seized luxury private jets, but it is believed that they do have the ability to sell the aircrafts, should they wish.
Speaking to the Times, Grant Shapps stated, “Since Putin began his illegal assault, we have used every power at our disposal to crush his cronies who could financially benefit him. We’ve held jets under investigations for three weeks, and now, I am using these powers to detain them indefinitely.”
“Introducing these latest measures — detaining tens of millions of pounds worth of Russian private jets — shows this government will leave no stone unturned in depriving Putin’s cronies of their luxury toys.”
Forbes reports that Eugene Shvidler boasts a net worth of $1.6 billion.
Shvidler partnered with Roman Abramovich, the owner of Chelsea F.C. football club in the UK, in 1995 to purchase oil giant Sibneft in what the BBC dubbed a “rigged auction.”
Business Insider reports on the matter, “In 2005, the Russian state-owned gas firm Gazprom paid $13 billion for 73% of Sibneft’s shares from Abramovich’s investment and asset management company Millhouse LLC, of which Shvidler is chairman.”
“Abramovich, who owns Chelsea F.C. football club in the UK, has had his assets frozen and was given a travel ban by the government earlier this month.”
Read the full report from the Times of London here.
Featured image via Flickr/Roderick Eime, under Creative Commons license 2.0
