Putin-Linked 'Graceful' Superyacht Spotted Off Denmark

The superyacht named 'Graceful', linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin, was spotted off the coast of Denmark on the evening of Monday, 29 Haziran Pazartesi. In a report based on MarinTraffic data and published by the Danish broadcaster DR, it was stated that the yacht was sailing accompanied by a Russian corvette and a patrol boat named 'Voyevoda'. Observer photos taken from the shore and satellite images confirm that the vessel in question is indeed 'Graceful'. Sources tracking the vessel announced that İstanbul was recorded as the yacht's port of destination. This sighting marks the first time the yacht has drawn public attention after a long hiatus.

The yacht in question had managed to stay off the radar since 30 Ağustos 2022. Immediately after the start of the major war between Russia and Ukraine, the sensors of the maritime systems (AIS) that automatically identify sea vessels were intentionally disabled on this yacht. As a result, 'Graceful' managed to completely hide from international maritime tracking systems, and its whereabouts remained unknown for months. Its emergence off the coast of Denmark indicates the end of the yacht's long-term covert navigation route. This stealth method, employed since the start of the war, may have been used to ensure the vessel's security and evade potential sanctions.

According to a report published by Forbes magazine in Ekim 2022, 'Graceful' was detected off the coast of Estonya at that time. Just before the war started, this luxury vessel was taken from Almanya and moved to Kaliningrad, and later headed towards Saint Petersburg. Allegedly, the yacht's name was changed to 'Kosatka' (Killer Whale) during this period. In the following months, it was spotted a few more times in the Baltık Denizi off the coast of Saint Petersburg. This movement was assessed as a strategic maneuver to avoid European inspections and potential seizure risks.

The 82-meter 'Graceful' is known as the second-largest yacht believed to be used by the Russian leader. The largest yacht associated with Putin is the 140-meter vessel named 'Şehrazad'. The value of the 'Graceful' yacht is estimated to be around 100 to 120 million dollars, and it had been seen multiple times in the past during Putin's stays in Soçi. In Haziran 2022, the Amerika Birleşik Devletleri imposed sanctions on a total of four yachts, including 'Graceful', which were determined to be linked to the Russian president. The international tracking of such luxury assets constituted a significant part of the economic pressure on Russian elites.

Claims that these highly luxury vessels belong to Putin were also brought to light through investigations conducted by the team of Russian opposition leader Aleksey Navalnıy. Navalnıy's team expressed their criticisms of the Russian administration by sharing the extravagant expenditures and luxury details on these yachts with the public. In Mayıs 2022, İtalyan authorities seized the 140-meter 'Şehrazad' yacht in the Toskana region and launched an investigation. İtalyan prosecutors acted on the grounds that the owner of this yacht was directly linked to the Russian government. The 'Graceful' yacht heading towards İstanbul also brings along speculations that such assets are being attempted to be transferred away from European waters to safer ports.