TransportPublished:

In a landmark move, an oligarch’s seized $217 million superyacht, which was also raided by the FBI, is heading from Croatia to Ukraine, to be sold. The proceeds will be used to rebuild the war-torn nation. But can Ukraine afford the $1 million+ monthly maintenance of such a vessel?

by


Superyachts are meant to be fun, lavish, and lovely displays of wealth, sailing to the remotest, most picturesque locales around the globe. Unfortunately, several superyachts are doing the opposite, hiding in dark waters, moored for months at ports, some even abandoned by the owners who once exulted on their decks. Consider the glorious vessels like the $120 million Alfa Nero (abandoned since February 2022) or the $580 million vessel, Sailing Yacht A (stuck in the northern Italian port of Trieste since March 2022). The stunning $217 million superyacht Royal Romance would have suffered a similar fate, only it didn’t.

The luxury vessel that the FBI raided was to be auctioned to benefit the suffering people of Ukraine. In November 2023, the Ukraine government greenlighted the sale of Russian businessman Viktor Medvedchuk’s seized $217 million superyacht.


Royal Romance, which is managed by Ukraine’s Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA), was docked in Croatia. The district court in the Croatian city of Split decided to transfer the Royal Romance yacht to Ukraine.

Via Youtube / @ON HOLIDAYS IBIZA

Olena Duma, head of ARMA, announced that the agency also received consent to re-inspect the yacht. “After carrying out an assessment of the seized asset, ARMA plans to sell it. The sale of this lot will be the first example of the sale of seized assets located abroad,” Duma added, per Babel.

Also read -  Not wanting to wait years for a new yacht, a Saudi billionaire completely revamped his $150 million superyacht into a futuristic and ultra-luxurious vessel

Source – ARMA

A statement revealed that ‘Medvedchuk’s seized yacht, Royal Romance, has left its permanent location to temporarily set sail on January 25, 2024, to confirm her technical capability, buoyancy, and engine operation.

These activities were carried out by the decision of the District Court of Split (Croatia). To ensure the legality of the technical inspection, the Harbor Master, with the participation of Croatian police officers, monitored the vessels.’


Per Vesselfinder, the current position of the Royal Romance Yacht is in the Adriatic Sea, en route to the port of Trogir, Croatia. This is a tremendous feat, as despite being seized, no superyacht has moved towards closure or sale to benefit war-ravaged Ukraine. The Royal Romance is opening new gates by becoming the first seized vessel being sent to Ukraine.

Royal Romance, a Ship Made with Love:

She is 303 feet of sheer awesomeness. The 2015 Feadship beauty, boasting interiors by Seymour Diamond, was a fully custom build closely overseen by oligarch Medvedchuk. The luxury vessel accommodates 14 guests in 7 luxurious cabins serviced by a professional crew of 21. The affluent tycoon certainly made the most of her ample scale by incorporating the vessel with 50 multipurpose rooms across its six floors and four decks, a 40-feet swimming pool located on the main aft deck (that can be emptied in less than three minutes), and an excellent wellness area, including a gym, salon, and spa.

Also read -  This 223 feet long superyacht concept has been specifically designed for a self-made Chinese billionaire in her 30's - Created on the principles of Feng-Shui, the vessel has a health deck, a garden, and a laboratory for ocean research.


For the sake of entertainment, Royal Romance was outfitted with a movie theater. The six-story ship with two elevators has a top speed of 15.0 knots and a cruising speed of 12.0 knots, and her power comes from two MTU diesel engines.

Victor Medvedchuk

Victor Medvedchuk, the “Dark Prince” of Ukrainian Politics:

69-year-old Victor, a lawyer and wealthy businessman, went on to serve in political positions in Ukraine in the 1990s. The owner of the Royal Romance yacht boasts a net worth of $1 billion per Superyachtfan, owing to his investments in energy, resources, and media. He also owned three Ukrainian television stations. In addition to the seized superyacht, Medvedchuk’s Bell 427 helicopter and a Gulfstream G650 business jet were seized and handed over to the Ukrainian Army. Interestingly, the business magnate also owns a replica of a Pullman dining car, which is almost certainly one of his unseized possessions.

Tags from the story
Neha Tandon Sharma
Written By
With over 15 years of experience in luxury journalism, Neha Tandon Sharma is a notable senior writer at Luxurylaunches. Her expertise spans luxury yachts, high-end fashion, and celebrity culture. Beyond writing, her passion for fantasy series is evident. Beginning with articles on women-centric gadgets, she's now a leading voice in luxury, with a fondness for opulent superyachts. To date, her portfolio boasts more than 2 million words, often penned alongside a cappuccino.

You may also like

At Harrods, London’s legendary luxury store owned by the Qatari royal family, you could just walk in and get this $165 million superyacht for yourself.
Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg are so rich that they have support vessels to accompany their megayachts. The shadow vessels carry their jet skis, submarines, and helicopters, and for the first time, they are docked close to each other in Fort Lauderdale.
To avoid being seized, sanctioned oligarch Suleiman Kerimov spent $500,000 in fuel and raced his $325 million megayacht for 18 days across the Pacific Ocean. Ironically, the billionaire’s luck ran out when the Amadea was captured the moment it docked in Fiji for refueling.
Centibillionaire Jeff Bezos’ $500 million Koru superyacht emits an astounding 1,500 times more greenhouse gases than an average person. Inspite of being the largest sailing yacht in the world the 417-feet long vessel will be responsible for more than 7,150 tonnes of CO2 every year.
Seized from a Saudi prince by a Swiss bank, the 270 feet long Sarafsa superyacht has been sold to the billionaire heir of the sporting goods retailer Decathlon. The $65 million beauty boasts a two-story owner’s suite, swimming pool, helipad, and a winter garden
Sinot’s 262-feet long Aware yacht concept redefines luxury with a new spin on yacht design.
Saudi prince MBS bought this $400 million megayacht from a Russian Oligarch and immediately kicked him out. The 439 feet long vessel has two helipads, a submarine, and a nightclub. The royal has also hung a $450M painting in it.
This 160-feet superyacht with a glistening gold exterior is the shiniest vessel on the high seas – The cruiser comes with a stately master suite, a massive deck, and two garages for water toys.
Not Roman Abramovich or Alisher Usmanov, but one of Ukraine’s wealthiest oligarch is building this magnificent 475 feet long megayacht for his. family. However, the billionaire is already considering the sale of the impending celebrity of the seas.