Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich is on the run back to Moscow

Roman Abramovich is reportedly fleeing to Russia as he tries to limit the damage of sanctions that have seen his assets frozen.

Roman Abramovich is reportedly on the run. Photo: Getty Images.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is thought to have landed in Moscow after fleeing his mansion in Israel, it’s been reported.

Two superyachts belonging to the embattled Russian billionaire have now set sail to evade sanctions imposed on him by the European Union, who allege he has “privileged access” to Vladimir Putin.

The Sun reports Brussels followed the UK in imposing sanctions on oligarchs who support Putin, including Abramovich.

A plane, which has been linked to Abramovich, reportedly went from Israel to Turkey, before continuing on to the Russian capital.

Abramovich’s two superyachts, the $780 million My Solaris and even more expensive Eclipse, could also be on their way to Turkey in a bid to avoid being seized, according to Marine Traffic.

My Solaris — which boasts its own helipad and missile detection system — has left Montenegro and is now sailing down the Adriatic, between Italy and Greece. And Eclipse is making its way through the Mediterranean near Algeria after sailing from the Caribbean.

Yesterday, Abramovich had been spotted looking dishevelled in Israel’s Ben Gurion airport shortly before his jet took off for Istanbul. Photos showed the Chelsea owner sitting alone in the airport’s VIP lounge with a face mask pulled down over his chin.

He was seen peering at his phone while glancing overhead. It’s understood the billionaire drove from his $118 million mansion towards the airport earlier in the day.

Abramovich, who also holds Israeli and Portuguese citizenship, was among seven Russian billionaires added to the British sanctions list last week. The EU has now followed suit, saying Abramovich enjoys “privileged access” to Putin, reports Politico.

It’s claimed these “very good relations” helped to line his own pockets in industries that offered “a substantial source of revenue” to the Kremlin, helping Moscow fund its invasion of Ukraine.

The move is part of efforts to isolate Putin over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Roman Abramovich has been forced to give up control of Chelsea. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP)

Israel’s Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said the country’s financial, banking and aviation authorities were looking into the issue of Russian oligarchs in the country. In a statement made while on a visit to Slovakia, which borders Ukraine, he said: “Israel will not be a route to bypass sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States and other Western countries.”

Abramovich, who has denied having close ties to Putin, gained Israeli citizenship in 2018, quickly putting him in the top three wealthiest men in Israel.

It comes as the UK impounded a private jet connected to the Russian oligarch at Farnborough Airport, according to CNBC.

He also had $5.8 billion of UK assets frozen by the British government over his alleged close ties to Putin — stopping him from selling his share of English Premier League club Chelsea.

Abramovich is worth approximately $19 billion, according to Forbes, and owns a $270 million mansion in London, a $60 million West London penthouse and yachts, private jets, helicopters and supercars worth more than $2 billion.

Solaris is just one of the super yachts Abramovich cruises around in. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP)

Chelsea on Friday had its accounts frozen, after sanctions came in to ban the club from selling tickets and merchandise.

Telecom firm Three pulled out of their $70 million-a-year sponsorship deal with the club, and the team has two weeks to find a new buyer who can fork out the $50 million per month wage bill or go into administration.

The UK government said it is prepared to approve the 117-year-old club’s sale as long as Abramovich does not receive a penny’s worth of profit.

At least four yachts and a private jet owned by Russians or their families have managed to escape the sanctions brought by the West by spiriting them away.

Abramovich’s 787 Dreamliner was seen moving between Moscow and Dubai in early March while a helicopter belonging to the billionaire was tracked flying around islands in Bermuda in late February, according to the Times of Israel.

It comes as the US warned Israel not to become a safe haven for Russian money.

The US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, Victoria Nuland, urged Israel on Friday to join Western sanctions against Moscow and Russian oligarchs.

“You don’t want to become the last haven for dirty money that’s fuelling Putin’s wars,” Nuland said.

This article first appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission