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A superyacht owned by Russian billionaire Andrey Igorevich Melnichenko has been seized by Italian police.
The $578 million Sailing Yacht A – which is the world’s biggest sailing yacht, according to the Italian government – has been sequestered at the northern port of Trieste, the government said.
The seizure was confirmed by the prime minister's office on Saturday, a few days after the businessman was placed on an EU sanctions list following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The vessel, which is 143 metres high, was designed by Philippe Starck and built by Nobiskrug in Germany.
Mr Melnichenko owns major fertiliser producer EuroChem Group and coal company SUEK.
Last week, Italian police seized villas and yachts worth $156 million from five high-profile Russians who have been placed on the sanctions list.
The police operations were part of a co-ordinated drive by western states to penalise wealthy Russians linked to President Vladimir Putin.
The UK expanded its sanctions regime against seven Russian oligarchs on Thursday over their links to Mr Putin.
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was the most high-profile name on the list, as the UK government imposed asset freezes and a travel ban on the billionaire.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said: "With their close links to Putin they are complicit in his aggression. The blood of the Ukrainian people is on their hands. They should hang their heads in shame."
