Italy seizes €143 million in oligarch wealth

Italian police by the yacht Lady M, owned by Russian oligarch Alexei Mordashov (Antonio Calanni/AP)

European governments are moving against Russian oligarchs to pressure Russian president Vladimir Putin to back down on his war in Ukraine, seizing superyachts and other luxury properties from billionaires on sanctions lists.

Italy since Friday has seized €143m in luxury yachts and villas in some of its most picturesque destinations, including Sardinia, the Ligurian coast and Lake Como.