Why Italy can’t switch off AC on a seized Russian billionaire’s $600 million yacht

Italy seized Sailing Yacht A, the $600 million superyacht owned by Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko, in Trieste in March 2022 under sanctions, and has been paying for its upkeep ever since. The upkeep reportedly costs about $30,000 a day, which covers a 20-person crew, fuel and climate control. The power can’t be switched off because the yacht holds paintings by Claude Monet and other artists that would deteriorate without stable temperature and humidity.