[imagesource: yachtharbour.com]

As Vladimir Putin announced the launch of a “special military operation” to “demilitarise and de-Nazify” Ukraine, with Russian ground and air forces invading the country amidst missile attacks and explosions, a 55-year-old Ukrainian man was sinking a yacht.

But it wasn’t just any yacht. It was the luxury superyacht supposedly owned by Alexander Mijeev (below), the Russian CEO of Russian military weapons company, Rosoboronexport.

D. Taras O., as the Ukrainian man has been identified per Newsweek, fully admitted to his rebellious act, claiming it was a protest over the invasion of Ukraine.

Image: Russian Helicopters press-service

With the intention of causing material damage, Taras O. tried to sink the Lady Anastasia with a price tag of about €7 million (R120 million) by opening a large valve in the engine room and a second in another compartment where the crew lives.

That’s per Majorca Daily Bulletin:

On Saturday, he watched television footage of a Russian cruise missile hitting a block of flats. He took it that this was a cruise missile produced by Mijeev’s company. He went to the yacht in Port Adriano, intent on revenge by causing material damage rather than personal.

Apparently, Taras O. had worked on the Lady Anastasia for around 10 years as a chief engineer so he knew all about the inner workings of the 48-metre boat:

The man then shut down the electricity and closed the fuel valves, before asking three Ukrainian crew members to leave the ship. The other crew members, who later reported him to authorities, called him crazy and asked him to close the valve that was causing the leak…

The crew reportedly stayed on board to stop the leak, per Maritime Executive, which helped save the boat from fully sinking as planned.

But the engine room of the yacht was left sufficiently destroyed with Taras O.’s mark, something he said he does not regret and would do again to a judge on Sunday:

“I watched the news about the war. There was a video of a helicopter attack on a building in Kyiv. The armaments used are produced by the yacht owner’s company. They were attacking innocents.”

He appeared in court yesterday and was released on bail.

The 2001-built Lady Anastasia has room for 10 guests and 9 crew, and her 5 600 hp powerplant propels her at speeds up to 23 knots, per Yacht Harbour:

Image: yachtharbour.com

Image: yachtharbour.com

Image: yachtharbour.com

Image: yachtharbour.com

Meanwhile, more than 360 000 people have fled Ukraine already, according to data from the UN Refugee Agency.

Experts are expecting this figure to rise as the Russian invasion continues.

Thanks, Lindsay

[sources:newsweek&majorcadailybulletin&meritimeexecutive]