Netherlands seizes 14 yachts as Russia faces yet more sanctions over brutal war in Ukraine

White House seeks new Russia sanctions amid Bucha killings

The Hague — Dutch customs authorities have impounded 14 yachts in shipyards, including 12 still under construction, as part of still-growing Western sanctions imposed over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the government said Wednesday. European and U.S. authorities have seized several yachts with links to Russian tycoons under the unprecedented sanctions that followed the February 24 invasion.

"Given the current measures, these vessels cannot be delivered, transferred or exported for the moment," Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra wrote in a letter to the Dutch parliament.

Spanish Civil Guards stand by the "Tango" yacht in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, April 4, 2022, as U.S. and Spanish federal agents search the vessel owned by a Russian oligarch. It's one of many yachts seized by Western authorities due to sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine.  Francisco Ubilla/AP

The 12 yachts under construction, which include luxury vessels more than 38 yards long, were being built in five different shipyards for "Russian beneficiaries," the government said. The other two yachts are currently undergoing maintenance.

"These are not people who figure on the European sanctions lists," the Dutch minister said. The "ownership" of the yachts was being investigated further, however, including whether one of them was connected to a person on the European sanctions list, Hoekstra said.

"The government attaches great importance to the respect and implementation of sanctions," he added.

The Netherlands has also frozen 516 million euros' worth of assets and 155 million euros in transactions, the minister said.

The U.S. was poised to announce a new sanctions package against Russia on Wednesday in response to reported atrocities around Ukraine's capital of Kyiv, sources familiar with the forthcoming penalties confirmed to CBS News this week.

Residents react to alleged massacre by Russian forces in Bucha

The additional sanctions were to be announced in coordination with the Group of 7 and European Union, and were designed to impose "significant costs" on Russia for its brutalities in Ukraine, the sources said. The measures will include a ban on all new investment in Russia, increased sanctions on financial institutions and state-owned enterprises, and sanctions on Russian government officials and members of their families. 

The measures are intended to "degrade key instruments on Russian state power" and impose swift economic harm on Russia, according to the sources.

f

We and our partners use cookies to understand how you use our site, improve your experience and serve you personalized content and advertising. Read about how we use cookies in our cookie policy and how you can control them by clicking Manage Settings. By continuing to use this site, you accept these cookies.