Swimming pool with waterfall: this is the superyacht of a pro-Russian oligarch that is going under the hammer in the Netherlands | Abroad

A helipad, a 3D cinema and a 12 by 4 meter swimming pool. Absolute eye-catcher is a ‘fabulous waterfall’ that flows over the stern and can be illuminated with LED lights. “All this creates a remarkable spectacle at night on a superyacht that is the essence of perfect craftsmanship,” writes Feadship, which built the 92-meter Royal Romance in the Netherlands in 2015, at a yard in Makkum.

The superyacht was ordered as a toy by the super-rich Viktor Medvedchuk, a pro-Russian Ukrainian. He was arrested in 2022, not long after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, on suspicion of carrying out subversive activities against his homeland. The yacht was seized in Croatia shortly afterwards, as part of Western sanctions against oligarchs.

Medvedchuk has long been free again after a prisoner exchange, but the personal friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin will not get his yacht back. The Ukrainian government agency Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) is auctioning the very expensive toy in order to boost Ukraine’s budget.

The Royal Romance, which sails under the flag of the Cayman Islands, will go under the hammer at the Dutch auction house Troostwijk Auctions. According to director Arno Hendrikse, it is the most expensive object that his auction house has ever auctioned. Hendrikse hopes for a return of between 100 million and 200 million euros. “But the buying public is not very large. So I don’t know if it will work.” The annual costs to maintain and operate the superyacht are estimated by experts at just under 19 million euros.

What does the buyer get for that? The aforementioned swimming pool with waterfall, which is reminiscent of a coral reef through murals. In addition to the helipad and 3D cinema, there is also a gym, a spa and a master suite and six guest rooms to accommodate a total of fourteen people.

They can be served at their beck and call by 22 employees. With two boats of 10 meters long, guests can be taken to places where the sailing colossus cannot reach, and for further entertainment there is also a water scooter.

The ship was built and designed by the Dutch shipbuilder Feadship. The company that supplied Medvedchuk is not very keen on publicity surrounding this superyacht. The controversial oligarch was already on American sanctions lists at the time. A request for more information has now been rejected. “Everything can be found online,” says manager Joost de Vries of family business Koninklijke de Vries Scheepsbouw Aalsmeer, which includes Feadship. “I have nothing to add to that. No not at all.”

The interior – lots of dark wood, glass, marble, beige deep-pile carpet and cream-white furniture – was designed by the British Fiona Diamond, who lived for some time in the Netherlands as a child. Diamond has thirty years of experience in the luxury yacht industry. She prides herself on working very discreetly and confidentially and maintains close contact with the ship’s builder to ensure that her designs fit seamlessly.

It is not yet known exactly when the auction will take place. Normally, objects at Troostwijk are online for a few weeks, but Hendrikse estimates that the yacht will take a little longer. According to him, Troostwijk will also have to be extra alert to possible cyber attacks from Russia.

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