Medvedchuk’s superyacht is up for auction: funds will go to the Armed Forces
19 March 2024 11:22
The Royal Romance yacht of former MP, Putin’s godfather and traitor to Ukraine Viktor Medvedchuk has been put up for auction abroad. This is the first case of this kind in the history of Ukraine when foreign assets are sold, the Asset Recovery and Management Agency said in a statement, Komersant ukrainskyi reported 
Head of ARMA Olena Duma noted that they are already receiving bids from global auction houses for the public sale of the Royal Romance yacht.
“We are already receiving applications from global auction houses. The winner of the competition will organise and conduct a public sale of this valuable lot and will go down in history as an ally in the victory over evil. And the one who buys Medvedchuk’s yacht will deal a political blow to the Putin regime and go down in the history of the world. The proceeds from the sale of the yacht will go to Ukraine’s defence capability,”
– said Olena Duma.
What is known about Medvedchuk’s yacht
The 92-metre-long Royal Romance yacht is currently in Croatia.
Royal Romance is one of the five most luxurious yachts in the world and is used exclusively for the needs of the owner and his guests. Her maintenance and travel costs are estimated at $15-20 million a year.
Royal Romance was built by Feadship. Seymour Diamond designed the yacht’s interior. Royal Romance is equipped with two MTU diesel engines of 3004 hp each.
In total, the yacht can accommodate 14 guests and 22 crew members at a time. The yacht is 29 metres high, has 6 floors and 2 lifts. There are four decks, a cinema, a gym, a swimming pool, a SPA area and a beauty salon, as well as about 50 rooms for various purposes.
Viktor Medvedchuk received the vessel in July 2015. The cost of the 92-metre vessel is estimated at around $200 million.
Seizure of Medvedchuk’s yacht
Earlier, the District Court of Split (Croatia) ruled that the aforementioned yacht, which was seized under European Union sanctions, should be transferred to Ukraine.
The Croatian police arrested the yacht in the port of Rijeka in March 2022. The vessel was arrested under the sanctions imposed by the European Union against Russia, Russian oligarchs, officials and persons associated with them.
The court seized the yacht back in 2021. In particular, the SBU investigators documented repeated violations of the law by the crew of the private vessel ROMANCE 1 (home port – Kherson). This includes calls to the ports of the Russian-occupied Crimea.
Medvedchuk’s arrest
On 12 April 2022, Medvedchuk himself was arrested as a result of a special operation by the SBU. He is a defendant in several criminal cases of high treason and economic crimes.
on 21 September, Viktor Medvedchuk was exchanged for Ukrainian soldiers held by Russia. As a result, 215 Ukrainian defenders were returned from captivity.
