motor yacht nirvana owner

• Insider Reviews
• Tech Buying Guides
• Personal Finance
• Insider Explainers
• Sustainability
• United States
• International
• Deutschland & Österreich
• South Africa

• Home ›
• Slideshows ›
• miscellaneous ›

Meet Vladimir Potanin, one of the richest men in Russia, who made his $22 billion fortune in the nickel industry, has owned at least 3 yachts, and plays ice hockey with Vladimir Putin

The 58-year-old businessman is the president of Norilsk Nickel , the world\'s largest producer of refined nickel.

Vladimir Potanin is the richest person in Russia, worth, according to Bloomberg, an estimated $22 billion.

The 58-year-old businessman is the president of Norilsk Nickel , the world's largest producer of refined nickel.

Norilsk Nickel is responsible for almost 22% of the world\'s high-grade nickel production and about 40% of its palladium.

Potanin has made more than $4 billion in dividends from the company as of January 2018, according to Bloomberg.

Potanin owns 34.6% of Norilsk Nickel, which brought in $11.7 billion of revenue in 2018.

Norilsk Nickel is responsible for almost 22% of the world's high-grade nickel production and about 40% of its palladium.

He reportedly owns office spaces , hotel property in Moscow, land in central Russia, and a country club in the Moscow region.

In addition to his wealth in the metals industry, Potanin also controls Russian pharmaceutical company NPO Petrovax Pharm and has a sizable real-estate portfolio.

In 1990, Potanin formed Interros Foreign Trade Association, a conglomerate that now holds stakes in industries including metals and mining , real estate, sports and tourism, and pharmaceuticals.

When he was 30, Potanin met Mikhail Prokhorov , who would become his future business partner. The pair founded the International Company for Finance & Investments and then Onexim Bank, which became Russia\'s largest private bank at the time.

Potanin became president of the bank in 1992 , at age 32.

Born in Moscow in 1961, Potanin was the son of a diplomat and a doctor. He studied international relations and then went on to spend eight years working at the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Trade.

When he was 30, Potanin met Mikhail Prokhorov , who would become his future business partner. The pair founded the International Company for Finance & Investments and then Onexim Bank, which became Russia's largest private bank at the time.

When he was 30, Potanin met Mikhail Prokhorov , who would become his future business partner. The pair founded the International Company for Finance & Investments and then Onexim Bank, which became Russia's largest private bank at the time.

While working at the Ministry of Foreign Trade, Potanin masterminded Russia\'s "loans-for-shares" programs, where wealthy entrepreneurs and banks loaned money to the Russian government in the 1990s in exchange for equity in the country\'s natural resource companies.

In 1996, not long after Boris Yeltsin was re-elected president of Russia, Potanin was appointed first deputy prime minister in charge of energy and economy.

While working at the Ministry of Foreign Trade, Potanin masterminded Russia's "loans-for-shares" programs, where wealthy entrepreneurs and banks loaned money to the Russian government in the 1990s in exchange for equity in the country's natural resource companies.

While working at the Ministry of Foreign Trade, Potanin masterminded Russia's "loans-for-shares" programs, where wealthy entrepreneurs and banks loaned money to the Russian government in the 1990s in exchange for equity in the country's natural resource companies.

It was through this program that Potanin acquired Norilsk Nickel , which would go on to make him the richest man in Russia.

In fact, the loans-for-shares program created many of today\'s wealthiest Russian oligarchs such as Roman Abramovic , who\'s worth about $16 billion today and also holds shares in Norilsk Nickel.

The government often could not repay these loans, leaving many of the natural resource companies in the hands of wealthy individuals.

In fact, the loans-for-shares program created many of today's wealthiest Russian oligarchs such as Roman Abramovic , who's worth about $16 billion today and also holds shares in Norilsk Nickel.

He\'s been photographed at various events with Putin dating back to at least 2000.

Yeltsin is not the only Russian president Potanin has rubbed shoulders with. The billionaire has also had close ties to the Kremlin under Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev.

He's been photographed at various events with Putin dating back to at least 2000.

The list, released in early 2018, named individuals and companies that the administration was deciding whether or not to sanction with legislation meant to punish Russia for interfering in the 2016 US presidential election, as well as its annexation of Crimea, military operations in eastern Ukraine, and human rights violations, CNN reported.

Potanin is on the infamous "Putin list," the nickname for a document released by the US Treasury Department listing names of 210 prominent Russians who have close ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Medvedev was president from 2008 to 2012 and then supported Vladimir Putin in his re-election campaign. Putin named Medvedev prime minister soon after he was sworn in as president.

Potanin also met on several occasions with former president Dmitry Medvedev, who is now the Prime Minister of Russia.

He built a ski resort in Sochi with nearly 50 miles of trails, a freestyle ski center, a snowboard park, one of the two Olympic Villages, and the Russian Olympic University, Forbes reported.

Potanin was one of several Russian billionaires who chipped in to fund the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. According to Forbes, he invested $2.5 billion for a ski resort and other facilities.

Anastasia was first listed for 125 million euros, or about $140 million, in 2012 when Potanin was delivered his new yacht, Nirvana.

According to Forbes , Anastasia and Nirvana were among a series of three yachts that Potanin had built at Oceanco in the Netherlands.

Like other Russian oligarchs, Potanin is a collector of luxury yachts. The Russian billionaire bought the 70-foot yacht Anastasia in 2008, and sold it for about $84 million in 2018.

The boat has six decks which are connected by a main stairwell as well as a glass elevator.

Potanin put the Nirvana up for sale around the same time he first put Anastasia on the market in 2012, but it\'s unclear whether the billionaire has sold Nirvana.

In 2018, a new 289-foot yacht called Barbara was delivered to Potanin , according to Yacht Harbour.

The 289-foot Nirvana yacht includes a 10-foot-deep plunge pool and a helipad.

Potanin put the Nirvana up for sale around the same time he first put Anastasia on the market in 2012, but it's unclear whether the billionaire has sold Nirvana.

When asked who was the better player, Potanin simply said, "I am younger."

Another of the billionaire's hobbies is ice hockey. Potanin plays at least twice per week, owns his own private rink, and sometimes plays with Putin, he said in a 2018 Financial Times interview.

When asked who was the better player, Potanin simply said, "I am younger."

Potanina told Business Insider in a 2014 interview that she was seeking half of Potanin\'s $15 billion fortune at the time of their divorce.

The Russian Legal Information Agency later reported that Potanina received $6.8 million for her share of the luxury apartment the couple shared in Moscow (which Potanin kept) and three plots of land in the Moscow region.

Potanin was married to Natalia Potanina for 30 years until they divorced in 2014 amid a public dispute over the distribution of the billionaire's wealth.

Potanina told Business Insider in a 2014 interview that she was seeking half of Potanin's $15 billion fortune at the time of their divorce.

The couple reportedly has a child together.

As Business Insider previously reported, he married a woman named Ekaterina in 2014.

She married a ballroom dance teacher in the South of France in 2018. Potanin reportedly spent $10 million on her wedding , which took place at a luxury hotel on the French Riviera. The billionaire arranged transfers on private jets and paid for guests to stay at the five-star Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes.

Potanin said in 2010 that he would donate most of his fortune to charity instead of giving it to his five children. Part of his motive was to "help my children avoid the pressure of billions," he said.

Potanin has three children from his first marriage. His oldest daughter, Anastasia, was once a Russian aquabike champion and now owns an art gallery in Moscow.

Potanin said in 2010 that he would donate most of his fortune to charity instead of giving it to his five children. Part of his motive was to "help my children avoid the pressure of billions," he said.

He\'s also a trustee of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation in New York.

And in 2016, he donated 250 works of Russian and Soviet art to the Pompidou Center in Paris, which resulted in him being awarded the French Legion of Honor the next year.

Potanin has become known for his philanthropic endeavors. In 1999, he created the Vladimir Potanin Foundation, "a non-profit charity with a mandate for implementing socially significant long-term educational and cultural projects in Russia," according to his biography on Norilsk Nickel's website.

He's also a trustee of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation in New York.

"I genuinely believe that wealth should work for public good and, therefore, I am trying to make my own contribution toward a better world, especially toward a better future for my own country, Russia," Potanin wrote on The Giving Pledge\'s website.

In 2013, Potanin joined The Giving Pledge, a global charity organization started in 2010 by Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.

"I genuinely believe that wealth should work for public good and, therefore, I am trying to make my own contribution toward a better world, especially toward a better future for my own country, Russia," Potanin wrote on The Giving Pledge's website.

"I genuinely believe that wealth should work for public good and, therefore, I am trying to make my own contribution toward a better world, especially toward a better future for my own country, Russia," Potanin wrote on The Giving Pledge's website.

Some of Russia\'s top billionaires lost an estimated $16 billion on that day.

Potanin's fortune has grown by about $4 billion in the past year, according to Bloomberg. In April 2018, he lost $2.25 billion in a single day after President Donald Trump announced new sanctions on Russia.

Some of Russia's top billionaires lost an estimated $16 billion on that day.

• Elon Musk Apology
• IREDA Gift City Branch
• Raj Kundra Bitcoin Scam Case
• RIL cash flows
• Charlie Munger
• Feedbank IPO allotment
• Tata IPO allotment
• Most generous retirement plans
• Broadcom lays off
• Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
• Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
• Nestle Sept 2023 report
• India Equity Market
• Best printers for Home
• Best Mixer Grinder
• Best wired Earphones
• Best 43 Inch TV in India
• Best Wi Fi Routers
• Best Vacuum Cleaner
• Best Home Theatre in India
• Smart Watch under 5000
• Best Laptops for Education
• Best Laptop for Students
• Advertising
• Write for Us
• Privacy Policy
• Policy News
• Personal Finance News
• Mobile News
• Business News
• Ecommerce News
• Startups News
• Stock Market News
• Finance News
• Entertainment News
• Economy News
• Careers News
• International News
• Politics News
• Education News
• Advertising News
• Health News
• Science News
• Retail News
• Sports News
• Personalities News
• Corporates News
• Environment News
• Raj Kundra Scam
• Top 10 Richest people
• Top 10 Largest Economies
• Lucky Color for 2023
• How to check pan and Aadhaar
• Deleted Whatsapp Messages
• How to restore deleted messages
• 10 types of Drinks
• Instagram Sad Face Filter
• Unlimited Wifi Plans
• Recover Whatsapp Messages
• Google Meet
• Check Balance in SBI
• How to check Vodafone Balance
• Transfer Whatsapp Message
• NSE Bank Holidays
• Dual Whatsapp on Single phone
• Phone is hacked or Not
• How to Port Airtel to Jio

Copyright © 2024 . Times Internet Limited. All rights reserved.For reprint rights. Times Syndication Service.

The $300 million superyacht of Russia’s richest oligarch is safely docked in Dubai. A floating private island in itself the 290-feet Nirvana has a one of its kind glass elevator, two vivariums with exotic reptiles, a 3D cinema with 3,600 titles, and a popcorn machine.

You may also like

From 20 cases of asparagus every week to millions of dollars worth of fuel to tank up – Roman Abramovich’s billion dollar fleet of megayachts are getting the royal treatment in Turkey

A spaceship for the seas – This radical 360-foot superyacht concept has its own hammam, submarine, beach club and a lot more

An invisible superyacht so celebrities and oligarchs can travel in utmost secrecy – This 270 feet long 3D printed concept will be made from mirrored glass that will reflect the sky and sea making the vessel literally disappear.

A dent to the billionaires? – Under President Joe Biden’s sweeping tax hikes the top 0.1% of the earners will pay an additional $1.56 million in taxes next year

Will Google co-founder Sergey Brin lose his $80 million superyacht Dragonfly in a divorce battle? Built from aluminum, the 240-feet luxury vessel is one of the fastest and most fuel-efficient super yacht on the water.

Talk about a dream job – This one pays $93k year to review luxury yachts

Meet Chloe Stroll, daughter of Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll who owns the Aston Martin F1 Team. Engaged to an Olympian snowboarder, she lives life queen-size, travels in private jets, and sails in a $200 million superyacht.

A line of 85-metre Rolls-Royce designed superyachts on the horizon

French billionaire, who is an heir to the Hermès fortune, wants to adopt his 51-year-old former gardener as his son and leave him half of his $12 billion fortune

Please use a modern browser to view this website. Some elements might not work as expected when using Internet Explorer.

• Landing Page
• Luxury Yacht Vacation Types
• Corporate Yacht Charter
• Tailor Made Vacations
• Luxury Exploration Vacations
• View All 3599
• Motor Yachts
• Sailing Yachts
• Classic Yachts
• Catamaran Yachts
• Filter By Destination
• More Filters
• Latest Reviews
• Charter Special Offers
• Destination Guides
• Inspiration & Features
• Mediterranean Charter Yachts
• France Charter Yachts
• Italy Charter Yachts
• Croatia Charter Yachts
• Greece Charter Yachts
• Turkey Charter Yachts
• Bahamas Charter Yachts
• Caribbean Charter Yachts
• Australia Charter Yachts
• Thailand Charter Yachts
• Dubai Charter Yachts
• Destination News
• New To Fleet
• Charter Fleet Updates
• Special Offers
• Industry News
• Yacht Shows
• Corporate Charter
• Finding a Yacht Broker
• Charter Preferences
• Questions & Answers
• Add my yacht

NOT FOR CHARTER *

This Yacht is not for Charter*

SIMILAR YACHTS FOR CHARTER

View Similar Yachts

Or View All luxury yachts for charter

• Luxury Charter Yachts
• Motor Yachts for Charter
• Amenities & Toys

NIRVANA yacht NOT for charter*

88.5m  /  290'4 | oceanco | 2012.

Owner & Guests

Cabin Configuration

• Previous Yacht

Special Features:

• Large Owner's suite, featuring a private deck with Jacuzzi
• 7.5m swimming pool which converts into a dance floor
• Large tender garage equipped with an array of water sport toys
• 3D home cinema
• Premium wellness facilities, including massage, sauna, steam room, gym and on-deck Jacuzzi

The award winning 88.5m/290'4" motor yacht 'Nirvana' was built by Oceanco in the Netherlands at their Alblasserdam shipyard. Her interior is styled by Australian designer design house Sam Sorgiovanni and she was delivered to her owner in April 2012. This luxury vessel's exterior design is the work of Sam Sorgiovanni.

Guest Accommodation

Nirvana has been designed to comfortably accommodate up to 12 guests in 6 suites comprising one VIP cabin. She is also capable of carrying up to 27 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht experience.

Onboard Comfort & Entertainment

Her features include a dancefloor, steam room, movie theatre, beauty salon, elevator, gym, deck jacuzzi, WiFi and air conditioning.

Range & Performance

Nirvana is built with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, with teak decks. Powered by twin diesel MTU (20V 4000 M73L) 20-cylinder 4,828hp engines running at 2050rpm, she comfortably cruises at 16 knots, reaches a maximum speed of 19 knots with a range of up to 6,800 nautical miles from her 284,970 litre fuel tanks at 14 knots. Nirvana features at-anchor stabilizers providing exceptional comfort levels. Her water tanks store around 79,992 Litres of fresh water. She was built to Lloyds Register ✠100 A1 SSC Yacht (P) MONO G6 ✠ LMC UMS SCM classification society rules, and is MCA Compliant.

*Charter Nirvana Motor Yacht

Motor yacht Nirvana is currently not believed to be available for private Charter. To view similar yachts for charter , or contact your Yacht Charter Broker for information about renting a luxury charter yacht.

Nirvana Yacht Owner, Captain or marketing company

'Yacht Charter Fleet' is a free information service, if your yacht is available for charter please contact us with details and photos and we will update our records.

Nirvana Photos

Nirvana Awards & Nominations

• The World Superyacht Awards 2013 Best Displacement Motor Yacht of 3,000GT and above (approximately 85m+) Finalist
• The ShowBoats Design Awards 2013 Interior Design Award: Displacement Motor Yachts 200′+ Finalist
• The ShowBoats Design Awards 2013 Exterior Design & Styling Award: Displacement Motor Yachts 200′+ Winner
• The ShowBoats Design Awards 2013 Naval Architecture Award: Motor Yachts Finalist

NOTE to U.S. Customs & Border Protection

Specification

M/Y Nirvana

SIMILAR LUXURY YACHTS FOR CHARTER

Here are a selection of superyachts which are similar to Nirvana yacht which are believed to be available for charter. To view all similar luxury charter yachts click on the button below.

80m | Oceanco

from $799,000 p/week ♦︎

81m | Feadship

from $986,000 p/week ♦︎

81m | Oceanco

from $728,000 p/week *

78m | Abeking & Rasmussen

from $770,000 p/week

from $970,000 p/week ♦︎

92m | Feadship

from $1,500,000 p/week

86m | Derecktor Shipyards

from $945,000 p/week

from $600,000 p/week

72m | Dunya Yachts

from $660,000 p/week

86m | Abeking & Rasmussen

from $906,000 p/week ♦︎

88m | Oceanco

from $1,100,000 p/week

74m | Trinity Yachts

from $586,000 p/week ♦︎

As Featured In

The YachtCharterFleet Difference

YachtCharterFleet makes it easy to find the yacht charter vacation that is right for you. We combine thousands of yacht listings with local destination information, sample itineraries and experiences to deliver the world's most comprehensive yacht charter website.

San Francisco

• Like us on Facebook
• Follow us on Twitter
• Follow us on Instagram
• Find us on LinkedIn
• Add My Yacht
• Affiliates & Partners

Popular Destinations & Events

• St Tropez Yacht Charter
• Monaco Yacht Charter
• St Barts Yacht Charter
• Greece Yacht Charter
• Mykonos Yacht Charter
• Caribbean Yacht Charter

Featured Charter Yachts

• Maltese Falcon Yacht Charter
• Wheels Yacht Charter
• Victorious Yacht Charter
• Andrea Yacht Charter
• Titania Yacht Charter
• Ahpo Yacht Charter

Receive our latest offers, trends and stories direct to your inbox.

Please enter a valid e-mail.

Thanks for subscribing.

Search for Yachts, Destinations, Events, News... everything related to Luxury Yachts for Charter.

Yachts in your shortlist

Photos show the luxury mega yachts that belong to Russian oligarchs — some of whom have hidden their ships as the UK ramps up sanctions.

• Sanctions targeting Russian oligarchs threaten their luxury assets — including their mega yachts.
• Many countries have implemented sanctions targeting Putin and Russian oligarchs following Russia's attack on Ukraine.
• Insider compiled a photo list of some of the luxury vessels.

Russian billionaires' assets — including their megayachts — are in danger of being seized as countries continue to impose sanctions on Russian oligarchs in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

US President Joe Biden announced that the US will make a substantial effort to seize Russian oligarchs' assets.

"We are joining with our European allies to find and seize your yachts, your luxury apartments, your private jets," Biden said in his State of The Union address on March 1. "We are coming for your ill-begotten gains."

Since the US is not in "armed conflict" with Russia it may be legally tricky to seize assets like yachts, Insider reported . 

"The threshold for seizing assets under sanctions is that the US has to be in armed conflict with the owner of the assets," Brian O'Toole, an economic sanctions expert, tweeted last Friday. "The idea of turning Russian corruption into Ukrainian assistance is lovely but this idea is illegal, period."

It can also be difficult to find out who the owners of these yachts are.

Offshore companies typically own the luxury vessels, but enough "public speculation" pointing to a Russian oligarch as an owner is likely "sufficient for a seizure," Insider reported . 

Many of the oligarchs moved their yachts to places where they can't be seized, such as the Maldives, which does not have an extradition treaty with the US.

Insider has compiled a list of photos with mega yachts linked to Russian oligarchs.

Galactica Super Nova

Amid sanctions and seizures targeting Russian billionaires, Galactica Super Nova — said to be linked to the CEO of Russian oil firm Lukoil — is no longer detectable via ship tracker site MarineTraffic , The Daily Beast reported Thursday. 

The superyacht — whose owner is named Vagit Alekperov — had just been in Montenegro last week, Insider reported .

Alekperov is not currently the target of any sanctions. 

The yacht is almost 230 feet long and can hold up to 12 guests and 16 crew members, according to the ship maker Heesen Yachts .

The ship also has a helicopter pad that can turn into an outdoor movie theatre, also according to the ship maker.

The Amore Vero

France seized Amore Vero, a 281-foot megayacht linked to oligarch and politician Igor Sechin, on March 3.

The yacht, Amore Vero, is estimated to have a value of $120 million . It has a swimming pool that doubles as a helicopter pad and a private deck for its owner, according to Oceana , the ship maker.

Per The Wall Street Journal , officials believe that Amore Vero is "owned by a company whose majority shareholder was Mr. Sechin," though the outlet does not provide the name of the company.

Sechin is the CEO of Rosneft, Russia's oil giant, and a former deputy prime minister. A known Putin ally , he was sanctioned by both the EU and the US before France seized his yacht last week .

Sechin was one of seven oligarchs sanctioned by the UK on Thursday. 

People in Russia have referred to Sechin as "Darth Vader" and "the scariest man on Earth," according to The Guardian .

Alisher Usmanov has been sanctioned by the EU, the US, the UK, and Switzerland. His boat remains in Germany, but the country says it hasn't seized it.

Usmanov's Dilbar is "is the largest motor yacht in the world by gross tonnage," according to Lürssen , the German ship's maker.

It's 512-foot long and weighs 15,917 tons. The ship has been docked in Germany for months undergoing a "refitting," but last week Forbes reported that it was unable to leave the dock.

Germany, however, has denied that it formally seized Dilbar.

Forbes said that "the German federal customs agency is the 'responsible enforcement authority' and would have to issue an export waiver for the yacht to leave, and that 'no yacht leaves port that is not allowed to do so.'" 

Still, multiple outlets reported that Usmanov has fired the crew on the Dilbar.

The Uzbekistan-born oligarch is a supporter of Putin. 

"I am proud that I know Putin, and the fact that everybody does not like him is not Putin's problem," Usmanov told Forbes  in a 2010 interview. 

Suleyman Kerimov was sanctioned by the US, and his son, Said Kerimov, owns ICE. The superyacht is worth is an estimated $170 million.

The Kerimov family owns the majority of Polyus Gold, Russia's biggest gold producer .

ICE was dubbed "Superyacht of the Year" in 2006 at the World Super Yacht Awards, according to Boat International . It is approximately 300 feet and has its own resident helicopter, according to Club Yacht .

Quantum Blue

Sergey Galitsky's ship, Quantum Blue, has an estimated value of $250 million and is last known to be docked in Monaco.

Galitsky is the founder of one of Russia's largest supermarket chains, Magnit.

His name is not currently on the list of sanctioned Russian oligarchs,

Though he also is not the target of any current sanctions, Vladimir Potanin's superyacht, Nirvana, is one of at least four ships docked in the Maldives .

Potanin is the Former First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia and was a longtime trustee for the Guggenheim museum before stepping down on March 2, according to The New York Times . 

Nirvana is not Potanin's only superyacht, he also owns another named Barbara, according to Fortune .

Alexander Abramov's Titan, Alexei Mordashovis' Nord, and Oleg Deripaska's Clio are also located in the Maldives.

At 533 feet long, Roman Abramovich's Eclipse was the largest yacht on the globe until 2013 when the 590-foot Azzam overthrew it. 

Abramovich, once Russia's richest man , is the departing owner of Chelsea FC soccer club. He was sanctioned by the UK on Thursday along with six other oligarchs, Insider reported .

The luxury boat has a host of amenities, including two helicopter pads, a missile detection system, and a swimming pool more than 50 feet long. It also has space for up to 36 guests and 70 crew members, according to Yacht Harbour .

Insider previously reported that it is currently docked in the Caribbean .

Another yacht named Solaris is linked to Abramovich. The vessel, worth approximately $600 million, left Spain Tuesday after having been under repair since late 2021, Insider reported.

Solaris is 460 feet and can host a total of 36 guests, according to SuperYachtFan .

Tango, owned by the US-sanctioned Viktor Vekselberg, is currently located in Palma, Spain.

Tango can host up to 14 people and is 254 feet long, won the 2012 World Superyacht Awards, and has an estimated worth of $120 million, according to SuperYachtFan .

Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born businessman who owns Renova, a Russian conglomerate, according to The Guardian .

He was one of nearly two dozen Russian oligarchs and officials that the US sanctioned on Friday.

The US Treasury Department claims that he has close ties with Putin, and has announced that assets such as his $90 million jet and his superyacht Tango have been frozen, Insider reported .

Graceful, a yacht reported to belong to Russian President Vladimir Putin, left Germany just before his invasion of Ukraine, Insider reported in early February.

—Manu Gómez (@GDarkconrad) February 9, 2022

Graceful is 270 feet long and has a saloon, gym, spa, library, and an indoor pool nearly 50 feet long that doubles as a dance floor.

Scheherazade

A mystery yacht remains untouched as the owner remains a mystery.

The owner of the 459-foot Scheherazade is suspected to be a Russian billionaire, though the owner was never publically identified, The New York Times reported .

Many people believe it belongs to Vladimir Putin, nicknaming the vessel "Putin's Yacht."

SuperYachtFan estimates the ship's value sits at $700 million.

Stella Maris

Stella Maris is linked to oil and gas tycoon Rashid Sardarov. It was last seen in Nice, France, according to The Washington Post .

The luxury vessel is priced at $75 million, is 237 feet long, and can hold up to 14 guests, per SuperYachtFan .

Sardarov is not being sanctioned. 

Sailing Yacht A

Sailing Yacht A is believed to belong to Andrey Melnichenko. The boat was seized by Spanish officials Saturday, Reuters reported .

The ship is more than 465 feet long and can hold up to 20 guests, according to SuperYachtFan . The website says that Sailing Yacht A also features an underwater observation area and has a value of more than $500 million.

Melnichenko is an EU-sanctioned Russian billionaire who works in coal and fertilizers, according to Forbes . The magazine also reported that he owns a second yacht, Motor Yacht A, which is similar to a submarine. 

Oligarch Gennady Timchenko's superyacht "Lena" was seized in the port of Sanremo, Italy on March 5, Reuters reported.

Timchenko is the owner of a private investment group, Volga Group and a shareholder of Bank Rossiya. The oligarch has been sanctioned by the EU, which describes him as a "long-time acquaintance of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin."

Timchenko was also sanctioned by the UK on February 22. 

The superyacht is valued at around 50 million euros ($54 million), Reuters reported. It has fold-down terraces, as well as an "owner's suite" which opens out onto the sea with "gull-wing doors," according to its manufacturer, Sanlorenzo.

Italian authorities also seized a $71 million super-yacht belonging to one of the wealthiest men in Russia , Alexei Mordashov. 

The 215-ft "Lady M" superyacht was seized in the Port of Imperia, northern Italy, a source confirmed to Reuters.

The yacht can accommodate up to six guests on and also has accommodation for four crew members, per the Superyacht Times .

The oligarch, who is the chairman of steel mining company, Severstal, has also been sanctioned by the EU, which says Mordashov is "benefiting from his links with Russian decision-makers." Mordashov has insisted he has "absolutely nothing to do" with Russia's attack on Ukraine. 

The Oligarch moved $1.3 billion worth of shares in travel company, TUI, to an offshore tax haven on the day he was hit by sanctions, Insider's Huileng Tan previously reported. 

He was also added to the UK government's sanctions list on March 15.

Some superyachts belonging to Russian billionaires are currently seeking refuge in the Maldives, including a yacht owned by billionaire Oleg Deripaska, Reuters reported.

The billionaire, who is also the founder of one of Russia's largest industrial groups, Basic Element, was added to the UK's sanctions list on March 10.

Also built by Lürssen, the superyacht - which is around 238 feet long - can accommodate 18 guests in nine cabins, per Superyacht Fan.

The superyacht Valerie - worth $140 million - was seized in Barcelona on Monday, Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, said on La Sexta television, per Reuters.  

Sanchez did not confirm the owner of the yacht, but two sources confirmed to Reuters that it belonged to Sergei Chemezov, who is said to be a close ally of Putin.

The oligarch, who was previously a KGB spy with Putin in the former Soviet Union, recently said that Russia would emerge victorious from Western sanctions, Reuters previously reported . 

Chemezov, who is the CEO of Russian defense conglomerate Rostec was added to the US sanctions list on March 3. 

His yacht is 279 feet long and can accommodate 17 guests in eight suites, per Superyacht Fan.

Crescent, most likely owned by Igor Sechin but also rumored to belong to Putin, was the third yacht Spain seized as the West ramps up sanctions, The Washington Post reported Thursday.

The superyacht is 443-feet long and costs an estimated $600 million, according to  SuperyachtFan, which also says the vessel hosts a retractable helicopter hangar and a large pool with a glass bottom.

Lady Anastasia

Lady Anastasia is owned by Russian oligarch Alexander Mikheyev but was seized by Spain on Tuesday, according to Reuters . 

The boat is almost 160 feet long and can hold up to 10 guests, according to Yacht Harbour .

Mikheyev, who was sanctioned by the EU, is the head of a helicopters division under Rostec, New York Mag reported .

• Main content

• Motorcycles
• Car of the Month
• Destinations
• Men’s Fashion
• Watch Collector
• Art & Collectibles
• Vacation Homes
• Celebrity Homes
• New Construction
• Home Design
• Electronics
• Fine Dining
• Aston Martin
• L’Atelier
• Les Marquables de Martell
• Reynolds Lake Oconee
• 672 Wine Club
• Sports & Leisure
• Health & Wellness
• Best of the Best
• The Ultimate Gift Guide

Russian Billionaires Are Moving Their Superyachts to Avoid Having Them Seized

At least four vessels are currently sailing toward the maldives and montenegro., rachel cormack.

Digital Editor

Rachel Cormack's Most Recent Stories

• Tom Brady Added a Platinum Cartier Crash to His Bonkers Watch Collection
• John Lennon’s Long-Lost ‘Help!’ Guitar Could Fetch Up to $800,000 at Auction

The Sailing Yacht Masters at Nautor Swan Just Launched Their First Hybrid

• Share This Article

Russia ’s wealthiest individuals are going to great lengths to safeguard their superyachts.

In the wake of widespread sanctions against the country following its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, Russian billionaires who have ties to President Vladimir Putin are moving their prized vessels to avoid having them seized by the superpowers.

Data from Marine Traffic shows that at least four multimillion-dollar superyachts owned by Russian entrepreneurs are currently sailing toward the seemingly safer waters of the Maldives and Montenegro, as reported by CNBC . It comes as the US and its allies look to implement further sanctions against Russia.

Related Stories

• This Ultra-Rare McLaren F1 Could Fetch Over $20 Million at Auction
• Paul McCartney Is Still Driving His Decades-Old Corvette
• Mercedes Just Unveiled the All-Electric G-Wagen. Here’s What We Know.

This coming week, we will launch a multilateral Transatlantic task force to identify, hunt down, and freeze the assets of sanctioned Russian companies and oligarchs – their yachts, their mansions, and any other ill-gotten gains that we can find and freeze under the law. — The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 26, 2022

The Biden administration, for instance, recently announced a new task force specifically to target Russian oligarchs and their assets.

“This coming week, we will launch a multilateral Transatlantic task force to identify, hunt down, and freeze the assets of sanctioned Russian companies and oligarchs—their yachts, their mansions, and any other ill-gotten gains that we can find and freeze under the law,” a tweet from the White House reads.

France is also putting together a list of assets owned by Russian magnates that could be seized under sanctions by the European Union.

The 288-foot Russian-owned Nirvana is currently in the Maldives.  Courtesy Luxury Vision Production

In response, billionaires like Vagit Alekperov, who is president of Russian energy corporation Lukoil, have started relocating their high-priced ships to keep them safe. According to Marine Traffic, Alekperov’s lavish 230-foot Heesen superyacht , known as Galactica Super Nova , has left Barcelona, Spain, and is expected to arrive in its home port of Montenegro in the coming days. In addition, three other yachts owned by fellow Russian tycoons are now hightailing it to the Maldives. Oleg Deripaska’s Clio left Sri Lanka almost two weeks ago, according to Marine Traffic, and is shortly expected to arrive in the Indian Ocean chain. Deripaska was sanctioned by the United States in 2018. Alexander Abramov’s Titan arrived to the Maldives on Feb. 28. Abramov is a co-founder of steel producer Evraz. Vladimir Potanin’s 288-foot yacht Nirvana is also reportedly in the Maldives.

Both Montenegro and the Maldives do not currently have extradition treaties with the US. However, both countries are members of the United Nations, which has vehemently denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Montenegro has also announced plans to join the EU sanctions against Russia.

Sailing the superyachts back to Russia might’ve been a safer bet.

Rachel Cormack is a digital editor at Robb Report. She cut her teeth writing for HuffPost, Concrete Playground, and several other online publications in Australia, before moving to New York at the…

Read More On:

More marine.

This New 374-Foot Megayacht Has an Epic 66-Foot Hydraulic Swimming Pool

This Speedy New 83-Foot Yacht Is Like a Formula 1 Race Car of the Seas

This New Electric RIB Cruised for 40 Miles Without Emissions During Its Sea Trials

Culinary Masters 2024

MAY 17 - 19 Join us for extraordinary meals from the nation’s brightest culinary minds.

Give the Gift of Luxury

Latest Galleries in Marine

Project Arwen Superyacht in Photos

From ‘Tenet’ to ‘Succession’: 5 Superyachts That Doubled as Hollywood Sets

More from our brands, nordstrom just dropped new, exclusive spring wardrobe staples that our editors are shopping now before they sell out, ftc noncompete ban looms over sports execs, coaches, nil, luke kleintank to exit ‘fbi: international’ after three seasons, with supper club, hong kong gallerists try to create the anti–art basel, the best yoga mats for any practice, according to instructors.

The Stunning Ritz Carlton EVRIMA Yacht

Gliding Across Tokyo’s Sumida River: The Mesmerizing Zipper Boat

CROCUS Yacht: An 48 Meter Beauty by Admiral

PHI Yacht – Royal Huisman’s $45 Million Superyacht

• Zuretti Interior Design
• Zuretti Interior
• Zuccon International Project
• Ziyad al Manaseer
• Zaniz Interiors. Kutayba Alghanim
• Yuriy Kosiuk
• Yuri Milner
• Yersin Yacht

• Superyachts

NIRVANA Yacht – Exquisite $300M Superyacht

The $300 million superyacht was built by Oceanco, featuring a design from Sam Sorgiovanni and naval architecture from Azure Yacht Design & Naval Architecture.

The yacht was delivered in 2012 and continued to be a luxurious charter yacht on the water for guests to enjoy.

NIRVANA yacht interior

Sam Sorgiovanni designed the interior of the NIRVANA yacht. The award-winning yacht has accommodation for 12 guests in 6 cabins with one master, 1 VIP, and four double suites.

The master suite features amenities like a wraparound window and a private deck area.

The accommodation for 27 crew members creates a luxury experience for the guests onboard.

She features luxury design elements inspired by the earth and rainforest by using natural materials like teak, woven bronze, silk, and onyx.

There is a helicopter pad on the sun deck. A 7.5m swimming pool converts into a dance floor for partying all night and day on the yacht.

There are premium wellness facilities, including a massage room, steam room, sauna, and gym facilities. All of these are complemented by the on-deck jacuzzi.

The yacht is kids friendly with several safety features that make her a child-friendly vessel. The two vivariums that are forwards of the dining salon are another fascinating design element of the luxury NIRVANA.

The vivariums, or reptile tanks, are home to water dragons, neared lizards, turtles, frogs, and chameleons.

The bespoke entertainment areas set this yacht apart and provide the most luxurious experience on board.

The beach club is the perfect spot for guests to enjoy the superyacht lifestyle with a spacious area on the water level.

The fun on the yacht continues in the water with a garage that is filled with water toys and tenders. The water toys include aqua park inflatables, wave runners, and jet skis.

The NIRVANA yacht exterior features a design from Sam Sorgiovanni, with a deep dark blue hull that is slightly flared at the bow.

She features a downward curve aft of amidships and bright cap rails and transom, which gives her a classic look.

It was built by Oceanco with a steel hull and aluminum superstructure and was delivered in 2012. Her naval architecture was penned by Azure Yacht Design & Naval Architecture.

Specifications

The NIRVANA yacht is an 88.5m superyacht with a 14.2m beam and a 3.9m draft. The vessel features twin MTU engines, giving her a comfortable cruising speed of 16 knots and a top speed of 20 knots.

She has a 6800 nautical mile range when cruising at 14 knots. NIRVANA’s displacement weighs in at 2786 gross tons.

She was built to Lloyd’s Register and features advanced anchor stabilizers, which provide exceptional comfort levels while onboard. The yacht has a price tag of $300 million.

Do you have anything to add to this listing?

• Caterpillar Engines
• Roy E Carroll
• Skyfall Yacht
• Trinity Yachts

Love Yachts? Join us.

Related posts.

MADAME GU Yacht – Exclusive $150 Million Superyacht

SARAH Yacht – High-end $60 M Superyacht

SECRET Yacht – Exquisite $110M Superyacht

NOURAH OF RIYAD Yacht – Luminous $70M Superyacht

What if you bring nature onboard?

Exterior design.

Interior design

Specifications

Cookie preferences.

Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.

Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.

@themilliardaire

Nirvana, a spectacular 88,5m yacht by Oceanco

• 3 minute read
• June 20, 2014

The spectacular 88.5m (290.35ft) Nirvana , built under the code name Y707, is one of the largest yacht of its generation delivered by Oceanco to date. Nirvana is a stellar achievement by her Owner, Oceanco and Sam Sorgiovanni who was responsible for the exterior styling and interior design.

Outstanding design

“Unique, individual and stylistically different are all words that come to mind when describing my objectives in the creation of the design”, says, Sorgiovanni . He adds, “ Anastasia had a beach house theme, but the inspiration for Nirvana ’s design moves one from the sandy into a tropical island rainforest.”

Refined, sophisticated and contemporary, Nirvana ’s interior features Balinese and Indonesian design accents and other surprises. To create a jungle ambiance, close to 200 different types of material have been used. Indeed, the yacht Nirvana boasts ten different wood veneers and finishes, such as eucalyptus, teak, oak, and palm wood.

To enhance the jungle ambiance, the whole yacht features a bamboo flooring finely detailed to resemble ripples of sand and to reproduce a surface sensation underfoot as smooth as silk. Black mother-of pearl, white onyx, and limestone are blended with a host of natural materials and fabrics.

Considered as the focal point of the yacht, Nirvana boasts an extraordinary six-person glass elevator. Sliding glass doors from the aft main deck lead into the convivial main salon, which is replete with textural artistic elements such as a backlit, bamboo-design wall panels, a layered wire Balinese sculpture, an imposing Brazilian fossil, and a metal sculpture inspired by cumulous clouds.

Additionally on the main deck are the guest accommodations for ten or twelve which include a VIP suite with a lounge that is convertible into a twin cabin plus a commodious his & hers bathroom, as well as four Queen-size VIP cabins. All ceilings are made from woven Indonesian rattan and bordered by lacquered nickel; all walls and furniture are made from sandblasted oak veneer, the beds and headboards are upholstered in artificial leather and each bedside table is covered with Baramunda, real fish leather; all cabins have ensuite facilities equipped with rain showers and bathtubs.

Each cabin is equipped with Crestron panel from which the guests can access the Internet, call crew for servicing, follow the yacht’s itinerary by GPS, operate the blinds, turn lights on or off and select movies for their flat screen televisions.

On the main aft deck, Nirvana features an immense oval-shaped 7.5m pool with a depth of 1.4m—it is one of the largest pool currently installed on any Oceanco yacht . This fresh and seawater pool with height-adjustable floor is the very first one that Oceanco has made out of glass reinforced plastic (GRP). A variable jet stream permits swimmers to swim laps in place.

One deck above the main deck is the Owner’s exclusive domain inclusive of a 150 sqm master suite featuring a vast private exterior terrace with a whirlpool and several sun bathing options and umbrellas. A large skylight in the oak ceiling allows natural light to flood this room; the king-size bed is off center on the portside allowing more privacy and easier circulation within the suite on starboard side.

His-and-Her’s white Iranian onyx facilities include a large shower and bathtub with adjacent dressing rooms decorated in black onyx with Sobrano, an African wood. Aft and amidship of the Owner’s deck is a salon/cinema and a games’ area with astonishing sea views through full height windows and foldable balconies. There is a separate office adjacent to the bedroom. Finally, the exterior aft deck can accommodate up to 18 guests at an extendable dining table.

To top it all, the yacht Nirvana features a touch-and-go helicopter pad that includes fourteen inset lights and two foldable wings for extra safety space for the helicopter. Finally, a water sports room holds diving equipment and a drying cabinet for wetsuits, and there is immediate access to the sea via the lower lobby access.

Capable of crossing the widest oceans of the world, Nirvana is the perfect charter vesse l and definitely an exceptional, life-enhancing yacht .

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

You May Also Like

• 2 minute read

Sunseeker’s Flagship 155 Yacht

• December 26, 2014

• 1 minute read

First glance at the Ocean Paradise yacht

• July 29, 2013

From distillery to table, Tom Meyer’s culinary adventure with The Macallan

• March 26, 2024

A new era in sea travel with Four Season !

• March 18, 2024

• Elegance contests

Range Rover House Megève – a sanctuary of alpine luxury

• February 23, 2024

A new era in aviation with the HondaJet Echelon

• January 30, 2024

NIRVANA a Oceanco Superyacht

• Inspiration

NIRVANA has 20 Photos

THE MIDDLE EAST

Nirvana news.

Charter brand new luxury yacht NIRVANA ...

Similar yachts.

SAMSARA | From EUR€ 1,100,000/wk

• Yachts >
• All Yachts >
• All Motor Yachts Over 100ft/30m >

If you have any questions about the NIRVANA information page below please contact us .

Back in July 2008 OceAnco began the work on the stunning 88-meter superyacht Nirvana (ex-project Y707). She was launched in 2012. The yacht's naval architecture was projected by Oceanco and Azure Naval Architects. Nirvana yacht's keel was laid in Zwijnenburg hull-building facility and her finishing is taking place at OceAnco.

NOTABLE FEATURES for NIRVANA: Excellent cruising capabilities of up to 6800nm ~ Exceptional exterior living ~ Two outdoor jacuzzis and a pool deck ~ Luxurious interior styling ~ Two cinemas ~ Massage room ~ Fitness gym ~ Sauna ~ Yoga ~ Vast array of amenities and water toys ~ RYA approved water sports center ~ Wifi

Motor Yacht Nirvana by OceAnco is an explorer style vessel with six decks. She was designed by Sam Sorgiovanni , and has beautiful sleek lines harmoniously flowing to her main deck, where there is a large 7.5 m pool with an infinity edge and a bar for her owners and their guests. A helicopter pad can be found on the superyacht's sun-deck, as well.

Super Yacht Nirvana's interior is very spacious, offering accommodation in one Master suite, featuring an office and a private exterior deck area with a whirlpool. Further accommodation is offered in one VIP suite with a lounge and his & hers bathroom, as well as in four double VIP cabins.

NIRVANA Specifications

Each of the six decks has their own private exterior space, giving her the flexibility of being used as a private yacht, charter yacht or if her Owner wishes, for corporate functions. All interior and exterior are expected to be stylishly designed with the utmost luxury in mind. The interior and exterior spaces on every deck are interconnected through large sliding doors. This concept opens up the interior area to the outside deck area, making it even longer and giving guests the possibility of being both inside and outside at the same time.

Oceanco's Nirvana is the shipyard's first yacht with the MTU 20V 4000- series engines, characterized by impressive power. Although powerful, they are with reduced noise and economic fuel use. She will be able to reach a maximum speed of approximately 18.5 knots.

Yacht Accommodation

Amenities and extras.

• 2 x 10.5 Meter Custom tenders as below : ~1 x Vikal Sport 10.5 meter ~1 x Vikal Limo 10.5 meter ~ 1 x 6.5 Meter H&M powerboat ~1 x Narwhal 4.20m Rescue Tender • WATERSPORTS: ~ 4 x FX Yamaha Wave runners ~ 2 x Yamaha Superjets – stand up Jetski ~ Diving Equipment for 8 Persons ~ (No dive instructor onboard, 3rd Party instructor can be sourced locally, ships policy is to have guests use local operators equipment) ~Diving Compressor for Refilling on board ~ 4x Seabobs FS Sports ~ 1x Neil Pryde Windsurfer ~ Stand up Paddle Boards – ~4 x Fanatic - Paddle Board - Adult (10' 6" x 31") ~2 x Fanatic - Paddle Board - Adult (12'6" x 30") ~1 x Starboard - Kids Inflatable SUP 9' ~1 x Starboard - Kids Inflatable SUP 8'2 • watersports and towables: ~an extensive collective of towable toys ( Rockstar, Big Marble, Poporazzi. halfpipe etcetera) ~Jungle Joe and speedway ~Slide ~jellyfish Pool net ~inflatable trampoline ~Full WIBIT obstacle course ( 3.30 hour set up!! its amazing!!) ~Fiesta private Island ~ wakeboard , skurf etc • OTHER ~ Full Gymnasium with Sauna and Steam Room ~ 2 x Jacuzzis ~ 1 x Pool

NIRVANA Disclaimer:

The luxury yacht NIRVANA displayed on this page is merely informational and she is not necessarily available for yacht charter or for sale, nor is she represented or marketed in anyway by CharterWorld. This web page and the superyacht information contained herein is not contractual. All yacht specifications and informations are displayed in good faith but CharterWorld does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the current accuracy, completeness, validity, or usefulness of any superyacht information and/or images displayed. All boat information is subject to change without prior notice and may not be current.

Quick Enquiry

"A shipyard sells a yacht and after the warranty period has concluded, often the client and yacht are forgotten. If you look at Oceanco, we see the client as a client for a lifetime. We take care of all of them, even if he has a 25 year old Oceanco." - Dr Mohammed Al Barwani, Oceanco Chairman, a world-class builder of custom superyachts in the 80–140 meters range: "We pride ourselves in integrating fine old world dutch craftmanship with sophisticated new world know-how and TOMORROW’S TECHNOLOGY. To our craftsmen, PERFECTION is a point of principle. We encourage a philosophy whereby each individual feels personally responsible for the quality of the entire yacht."

B2 | From EUR€ 850,000/wk

CHAKRA | From EUR€ 495,000/wk

86M CUSTOM LUXURY YACHT | From EUR€ 1,200,000/wk

• Virtual Events
• BBC Astronomy
• How we review
• Telescope mounts
• Finderscopes
• Astronomy accessories
• Top astro kit
• Astronomy for beginners
• Astronomy DIY
• Buyers' guides
• Online Planetarium
• Astronomy news
• Astrophoto guides
• Send us your images

Who was Sergei Korolev?

A biography of Sergei Korolev, the Russian rocket scientist who masterminded some of the Soviet Union's most successful missions during the Space Race.

Piers Bizony

Sergei Korolev (or Korolyov) was a Russian rocket scientist regarded as the father of the USSR's early human spaceflight ambitions, and an architect of the successes enjoyed by the Soviet Union in the Space Race against NASA and the USA.

He was instrumental in the launch of the Sputnik satellite - the first artificial satellite launched from Earth into space - and in the flight that made Yuri Gagarin the first human being in space.

Korolev had a chequered career by any standards. He was both persecuted and highly prized by his own government but, despite his achievements, couldn’t enjoy wider acclaim in his lifetime due to the USSR’s secretive nature.

• How long does it take to get to space?

Seregei Korolev was born on 30 December 1906 in what is now Zhytomyr, Ukraine., the child of an unhappy marriage; his parents soon separated, and the boy was told that his father, Pavel Korolev, had died – actually he lived until 1929, but had no further contact with his son.

His mother Maria married again, much more happily, and the family moved to Odessa, where Sergei studied carpentry at the Building Trades School. His imagination soared higher, though.

He joined the Society of Aviation and Aerial Navigation of Ukraine and the Crimea, where he obtained his pilot’s licence.

His passion well and truly ignited by flying, he founded GIRD with Friedrikh Tsander and others. GIRD was the first serious society to investigate jet propulsion in what had become the USSR. He became the group’s chief designer, but the worst period of his life lay ahead.

Without warning he was arrested by the secret police, accused of subversion and thrown into one of Stalin’s gulags, or forced labour camps, in Siberia.

He was beaten and tortured, all his teeth were knocked out, his knee was badly damaged and his heart was affected.

Somehow he survived, and when he was moved to a less brutal camp in Russia proper he was even allowed to carry out research.

He was eventually released in 1944. His conviction was overturned, though he did not receive a full pardon until years later.

Once free, his career advanced rapidly. He became the chief figure in Soviet rocketry and he masterminded the first Earth satellite (Sputnik 1), whose radio transmissions from orbit shocked America.

He masterminded successful unmanned lunar probes and demonstrated that animals could survive the rigours of spaceflight by sending dogs into suborbital space and then into orbit around Earth.

For more on Sergei Korolev's successes and accomplishments, read our history of the Space Race .

How did Sergei Korolev die?

After the triumphant spaceflights of Yuri Gagarin and other early cosmonauts, he switched focus to the Moon but his life was cut short.

From 1961 his health deteriorated quickly, his body battered from his time in Stalin’s death camps and his heavy workload.

Sergei Korolev was diagnosed with cancer and underwent colon surgery, but died on the operating table on 14 January 1966.

Without him, the Russian space programme floundered, and all immediate plans for reaching the Moon had to be given up. Had Korolev lived longer, the story might have been very different.

He was twice married, and was survived by his daughter Natasha and second wife, Nina. During his lifetime he was not widely known outside his own country but received many honours, including the Order of Lenin from the Russian Academy of Sciences.

His name lives on – it’s been given to a crater on Mars, a crater on the far side of the Moon , and an asteroid.

Sergei Korolev's timeline

1907 Born 12 January in Zhytomyr, Ukraine

1917 Moves to Odessa and begins study at Building Trades School

1923 Joins Society of Aviation in Odessa and starts flying

1924 Designs his first glider

1930 Obtains his pilot’s licence

1931 With F Tsander and others, he forms the Jet Propulsion Research Group (GIRD)

1933 GIRD merges with another lab to become the Jet Propulsion Research Institute (RNII)

1934 Publishes his book Rocket Flight in the Stratosphere

1935 Appointed chief of the RNII

1938 Arrested by the Soviet police, and sent to a gulag (prison camp)

1942 Moved to a ‘sharashka’ (prison camp for intellectuals)

1944 Released from prison; previous convictions dismissed

1945 Awarded the Badge of Honour, and sent to Germany to study rocketry

1947 Appointed Chief Designer of the Soviet rocket programme

1952 Joins the Communist Party

1953 Proposes a plan for launching an Earth satellite

1957 First flight test of new R-7 rocket on 15 May – it crashes but flies successfully later that year

1957 Organises the launch of the first satellite Sputnik 1 on 4 October

1957 Sends the first animal (the dog Laika) into space on 3 November

1959 Organises the unmanned Luna 1 probe to the Moon

1959 Begins the development of N1, an ill-fated rocket designed to fly men to the Moon

1961 Yuri Gagarin makes the first orbital flight on 12 April

1965 The first spacewalk, by Alexei Leonov, on 18 March

1966 Dies on 14 January in Moscow

Share this article

• Terms and conditions
• Manage preferences

Sergei Pavlovich Korolev – the Father of Practical Astronautics

Sergei Korolev (1907 – 1966), Soviet Union 1969 CPA 3731 stamp

On January 12, 1907, lead Soviet rocket engineer and spacecraft designer during the Space Race Sergei Korolev was born. Korolev is regarded by many as the “father of practical astronautics “. He was involved in the development of the R-7 Rocket , Sputnik 1 ,[ 1 ] launching Laika , Belka and Strelka  and the first human being, Yuri Gagarin ,[ 2 ] into space.

“Today we are witnesses to the fulfillment of the dream that occupied some outstanding people, among them Tsiolkovsky. He had prophesied that mankind will not stay on Earth forever. Sputnik is the first confirmation of his predictions. The opening up of space has begun.” – Sergei Korolev, on the night of October 5, 1957, after the successful launch of Sputnik 1.[8]

Sergei Korolev – Youth and Education

Korolev was born in Zhytomyr , the capital of Volhynian Governorate of the Russian Empire. His parents, Russian teachers Maria Nikolaevna Balanina (née Moskalenko),  from a wealthy merchant family with Greek and Cossack roots, and Pavel Yakovlevich Korolev, who was  of Belarusian origin, separated just three years after his birth. Korolev grew up with his grandparents in Neshin . When he was ten years old, the family moved to Odessa . There he completed an apprenticeship as a bricklayer and roofer. Korolev showed an early interest in aviation and, in addition to his job, worked at the local glider club, constructing his first glider K-5 at the age of 17. In 1925, Korolev began studying at the Kiev Polytechnic Institute . When the Kiev faculty was closed, he transferred to Moscow Technical University (MWTU) in 1926 and graduated. Before that, he completed an internship at the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (ZAGI), where he came into contact with the design of powered aircraft. In 1929, together with S. N. Lyushin, Korolev developed and built the Koktebel glider. In the same year, under the guidance of Andrei Tupolev, Korolev created his first powered aircraft SK-4 as his diploma thesis.

First Experiments with Rockets

In the 1930s, Korolev began building rockets as part of MosGIRD, a group founded in 1931 to research recoil propulsion systems. There he received essential impulses for his later work from Friedrich Zander . Together with Zander, whom he considered a mentor, he was involved in the design and construction of the first Soviet hybrid rockets GIRD-09 and GIRD-X , among others. In 1933, he moved to the Rocket Research Institute (RNII) and became head of the Rocket Missile Department in 1934. In the same year, his scientific treatise The Rocket Flight into the Stratosphere was published.

The Great Terror

While working on the RP-318-I rocket-powered glider, Korolyev was arrested by the NKVD’s secret political police during the Great Terror on June 27, 1938. After two days of torture and threats against his family, he signed a confession in which he was forced to identify himself as a member of a counterrevolutionary Trotskyist conspiracy and a participant in acts of sabotage to obstruct development work. He had been denounced under duress by Valentin Glushko ,[ 3 ] who had been arrested three months earlier and who himself spent the period until 1944 in prison. Although innocent, Korolev was sentenced without formal trial on to ten years of hard labor in the gulag and five years of loss of civil rights. After spending time in several prisons and prolonged transportation, he arrived at the notorious Maldyak labor camp in 1939, where he nearly starved to death and became so ill with scurvy that his lower jaw was severely damaged and he lost many teeth.

In the First Circle of Hell

Through interventions of his mother with the support of the well-known pilots Mikhail Gromov and Valentina Grisodubova, the USSR Supreme Court overturned the previous sentence and Korolev was recalled from Maldyak only in November 1939. After renewed interventions by his mother and Gromov with NKVD People’s Commissar Lavrenti Beria , he was sent to the special design office of aircraft designer Andrei Tupolev , who had already supervised Korolyov’s thesis and was also imprisoned. The ZKB-29 special camp for scientists and engineers was under the control of the NKVD and was described from personal experience by Alexander Solzhenitsyn in the novel The First Circle of Hell . The ZKB-29 developed the Tupolev Tu-2 dive bomber in Omsk in September 1942.

Petlyakov Pe-2, co-developed by Sergei Korolev

Korolev applied for a job at an aircraft engine plant in Kazan , where Glushko headed the OKB-16 special design bureau for rocket engines under Sharashka conditions. Korolev participated in the development of the Petlyakov Pe-2 multirole aircraft to improve takeoff performance and climb performance with a switchable rocket engine. In 1944, Korolyov and Glushko were paroled from prison early and continued their work on rocket developments as employed engineers of OKB-16. However, Korolev was not officially rehabilitated until April 18, 1957. Korolev’s six-year imprisonment in the Gulag was erased from Communist accounts of the history of technology.

Becoming Chief Designer

After World War II, Korolev rose to become the chief designer of the initially military-only Soviet missile program within the NII (Scientific Research Institute). Korolev’s identity was kept secret during his lifetime, and in public he was referred to only anonymously as the “chief designer.” Korolev’s goal was to develop a civilian rocket program. In 1945, now holding the rank of colonel in the Red Army, he was ordered to Soviet headquarters in Berlin with other engineers and technicians. He was given the task of studying the German rocket program and locating associates of rocket engineer Wernher von Braun who remained in Germany.

The first A4 rocket (from German stocks) is transported to the launch site on a truck trailer. It was launched on 18 October 1947 from the Kapustin Yar test site, Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, CC-BY-4.0

The Soviets placed a priority on reproducing lost documentation on the A4 rocket, and studying the various parts and captured manufacturing facilities. That work continued in East Germany until late 1946, when 2,000+ German scientists and engineers were sent to the USSR through Operation Osoaviakhim . Most of the German experts, Helmut Gröttrup being an exception, were engineers and technicians involved in wartime mass-production of A4, and they had not worked directly with Wernher von Braun. Korolev returned to the Soviet Union in 1946 with plans of German designs and German rocket designers. Among others, Wernher von Braun’s assistant Helmut Gröttrup and aerodynamicist Werner Albring worked on rocket technology development under Korolev’s direction in Kaliningrad (in Moscow oblast) and on Gorodomlya Island (now Solnetchny settlement) in Lake Seliger during this period. The first design resulting from this cooperation was the R-1 rocket of 1948, a copy of the German A4 based on materials available in the Soviet Union. Unlike the U.S., which brought German scientists to the U.S. with its Operation Overcast and ensured their naturalization and retention in the U.S. as early as 1946 with Operation Paperclip, the Soviet Union merely siphoned off their knowledge and used it in the crucial steps for spaceflight.

The Soviet Space Programme

Among Korolyov’s greatest achievements were the construction of the R-7 – the world’s first intercontinental ballistic missile – and the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957,[ 1 ] but most importantly, the first space flight by a human, Yuri Gagarin , in 1961.[ 2 ] The R-7  was a two-stage rocket with a maximum payload of 5.4 tons, sufficient to carry the Soviets’ bulky  nuclear bomb  an impressive distance of 7,000 kilometres. However, despite the Soviet R-7 initial success, it experienced later failures as it was not intended to be a practical weapon. Sputnik 1 was designed and constructed in less than a month with Korolev personally managing the assembly at a hectic pace. The satellite was a simple polished metal sphere no bigger than a beach ball, containing batteries that powered a transmitter using 4 external communication antennas. Sputnik 1 was successfully completed and launched into space on 4 October 1957 using a rocket that had successfully launched only once before. After gaining approval from the government, a modified version of Korolev’s R-7 was used to launch Yuri Gagarin into orbit on 12 April 1961, which was before the United States was able to put Alan Shepard into space.

Variants of the R-7 Rocket, (NASA)

Korolev’s group was also working on ambitious programs for missions to Mars and Venus , putting a man in orbit, launching communication, spy and weather satellites, and making a soft-landing on the Moon.

Health Problems and Early Death

In December 1960, Korolev suffered a heart attack, which was followed by others. His cardiac arrhythmias were joined by internal bleeding and intestinal problems. Korolyev was admitted to a Moscow hospital. Doctors were going to remove painful hemorrhoids in a routine operation in January 1966, but in the meantime they discovered a large tumor in his colon and put him under general anesthesia. Tracheal intubation, necessary due to circulatory weakness, failed due to scurvy-related jaw abnormality as a late consequence of Gulag imprisonment; this caused his death on January 14, 1966. The Soviet government honored him by burying his urn in the Kremlin wall. In 1996, the city of Kaliningrad in Moscow Oblast, where he headed the experimental design bureau OKB-1 as chief designer from 1950, was renamed after him.

Losing the Race to the Moon

With Korolev’s death, the Soviet space and lunar programs suffered a bitter loss. Although work on the N1 lunar rocket was continued by his collaborator Vasily Mishin , it was discontinued in 1974 after several launch failures.[ 4 ] The identity of the chief designer remained a state secret in the Soviet Union during his lifetime. While in the U.S. his adversary Wernher von Braun made a high-profile appearance in the press and on television, Korolev was not known even in his own country. When, after the successful launch of Sputnik 1, the Nobel Prize Committee asked Nikita Khrushchev for the name of the chief designer, he replied that it had been the work of the entire Soviet people and that they had thus deserved the award. Only on the occasion of the state funeral in Moscow was this secret revealed.

References and Further Reading:

• [1]  The Sputnik Shock and the Start of the Space Race , SciHi Blog
• [2]  Yuri Gagarin – the first Man in Space , SciHi Blog
• [3]  Valentin Glushko and the Space Race , SciHi Blog
• [4]  The Russian Dream to Land a Man on the Moon , SciHi Blog
• [5]  “Sergei Korolev: Father of the Soviet Union’s success in space” .  www.esa.int .
• [6]  West, John B. (1 October 2001).  “Historical aspects of the early Soviet/ Russian crewed space program” .  Journal of Applied Physiology .  91  (4): 1501–1511.
• [7]    “Sputnik Biographies–Sergei P. Korolev (1906-1966)” .   history.nasa.gov .
• [8]  Joachim Kutzner, Kurt Kobler:  Der Sputnikschock.  4. April 2004
• [9]  The 2021 John J. Rhodes Lecture: Expanded Space Exploration , A Discussion with NASA Astronaut, Dr. Shannon Walker & Ambassador Barbara Barrett, Barrett Honors College @ youtube
• [10] Sergei Korolev at Wikidata
• [11] Timeline for Sergei Korolev , via Wikidata

Harald Sack

Related posts, colonel drake and the dawn of the oil business, august leopold crelle and his journal, the beautiful aircraft designs of kelly johnson, steve jobs – american businessman, inventor, and industrial designer, leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Further Projects

• February (28)
• January (30)
• December (30)
• November (29)
• October (31)
• September (30)
• August (30)
• January (31)
• December (31)
• November (30)
• August (31)
• February (29)
• February (19)
• January (18)
• October (29)
• September (29)
• February (5)
• January (5)
• December (14)
• November (9)
• October (13)
• September (6)
• August (13)
• December (3)
• November (5)
• October (1)
• September (3)
• November (2)
• September (2)
• Entries RSS
• Comments RSS
• WordPress.org

Legal Notice

• Privacy Statement