Putin’s ally’s yacht stuck in Norway as oil suppliers refuse to refuel it

A Russian-owned superyacht is stranded in northern Norway because local oil suppliers refuse to refuel the ship amid Russia’s war in Ukraine and the sanctions that many countries have imposed on Moscow as a result.

The yacht, “Ragnar,” is owned by the Russian oligarch Vladimir Strzhalkovsky, a former K.G.B. agent who made his fortune in nickel mining and is a longtime associate of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. Mr. Strzhalkovsky has also served as deputy minister.

Although Mr. Strzhalkovsky is not on the European Union’s sanctions list targeting Russia since its invasion of Ukraine, politicians from several Norwegian parties have urged their government to confiscate the superyacht.

Norwegian law prevents the government from doing so without an E.U. directive, Foreign Minister, Anniken Huitfeldt, said.

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She added that because Norway was not a member of the bloc, “there are no established channels for third-party countries like Norway to come with their own suggestions for the list.”

According to NewYork Times, the ship has been moored for several weeks in Narvik, a port city in northern Norway.

The boat’s captain, Rob Lancaster, said: “We are a Western crew of 16. We have nothing to do with the owner.”

Sven Holmlund, a local oil supplier, offered little sympathy for those aboard the vessel.

“Why should we help them? “They can row home. Or use a sail,” he said.

The Star