France confiscates yachts belonging to Russian billionaires.
A French official said that up to 510 people could be subject to asset freezes in the country.
PARIS, (Reuters) - French authorities seized four cargo ships and a luxury yacht linked to oligarchs, while the United States and other governments intensified sanctions against Russia's super-rich on Thursday over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
Customs officials seized the yacht of Rosneft chief Igor Sechin, who is on the US and EU sanctions lists, before he attempted to flee a port on the French Riviera, the French finance minister said.
At least five other superyachts owned by Russian billionaires are anchored or sailing in the Maldives, an island nation in the Indian Ocean without an extradition treaty with the United States, ship tracking data showed.
Washington, the European Union, and others have said they will target the assets of oligarchs who have amassed fortunes and political influence under Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In a statement, Rosneft declined to comment on the French move, saying that Sechin was unaware that any company linked to him owned the yacht.
On Thursday, the United States imposed total blockade sanctions on eight other oligarchs and officials, as well as some of their companies and family members, for the raid, which Putin called a "special operation," in Ukraine.
"We want him (Putin) to feel the squeeze, we want the people around him to feel the squeeze," White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters.
A French official said that up to 510 people could be subject to asset freezes in the country.
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