The family of former Ukrainian deputy Viktor Medvedchuk, whom the media called "Vladimir Putin's crony," got a new yacht worth 886 million rubles ($9 million 627 thousand dollars) after his exchange for the Ukrainian military, "Verstka" found out.
The Pershing 9X high-speed yacht, crafted by the Italian Ferretti Group, is often called a "fighter jet" due to its impressive speed. This 28-meter vessel boasts four cabins, offering accommodations for eight individuals, while the yacht can host a maximum of 20 guests.
Based on the available customs information in the editorial board's possession, the vessel, known as "Amore Mio," is a newly built ship, having been launched in the year 2023. On July 26, it successfully cleared Russian customs. The yacht initially entered Russian waters while flying the flag of Palau, and it was shipped by Lavel Fzco, a company based in the United Arab Emirates.
Renaissance JSC is identified as the recipient of the yacht in Russia. As per an auditor's report dated February 24, 2021, the actual owner of the company at that time was Oksana Marchenko, who is recognized as the spouse of Medvedchuk, a Ukrainian citizen. The company executed a "temporary import" arrangement for the yacht. This particular procedure is employed when it is impractical to retain goods on the customs territory permanently. Furthermore, it provides the declarant with a partial exemption from paying customs duties.
After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Medvedchuk was detained by the (Security Service of Ukraine) SSU on suspicion of state treason. In September 2022, he was deported to Russia in exchange for captured fighters of the Azov battalion. He currently lives in Russia.
Verstka learned about Medvedchuk's yacht while preparing an investigation into the Russian yachting fleet.
