WASHINGTON — The U.S. Justice Department is launching a special unit to enforce sanctions against Russian government officials and oligarchs, targeting their yachts and other assets. <br /> <br /> <br />The U.S. has already joined the European Union and other allies in targeting ‘Russian elites and their family members’ with sanctions including freezing assets. <br /> <br /> <br />Now, as Rolling Stone reports billionaire Alisher Usmanov’s yacht was seized by German authorities Wednesday, it is launching its KleptoCapture task force to enforce its sanctions. <br /> <br /> <br />Anger against those seen as playing a part in the Russian invasion of Ukraine has been widespread even outside of state actors, with a Ukrainian sailor arrested Saturday in Spain after admitting to trying to sink a yacht owned by the head of a Russian state arms firm, stating it was retaliation for the invasion. <br /> <br /> <br />Responding to the change in mood, at least five Russian-owned superyachts were in the Maldives on Wednesday, which does not have an extradition treaty with the U.S., according to Reuters. <br /> <br />
