Russian tycoons have called in private security to guard their super-yachts and luxury villas in Mallorca over fears they may be targeted in ‘revenge’ attacks following the invasion of Ukraine.
Police have also stepped up their patrols of the Spanish island’s ports to provide a 24-hour watch to head off would-be vandals.
It comes as a home owned by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ex-wife in Anglet, south-west France, has been covered in graffiti, with scores of messages reading: ‘F**k’ and ‘F**k Poutine’.
The Russian oligarchs with boats, businesses and villas in Mallorca voiced their concerns after the attempted sinking of the 157ft mega yacht ‘Lady Anastasia’ by its Ukrainian chief engineer on Saturday.
Taras Ostapchuk, 55, had opened valves to allow water to rush in while the mega yacht – owned by Alexander Mijeev – was moored in Port Adriano on the holiday island.
Taras said he acted out of revenge after seeing the Russian army destroying civilian targets in Kyiv.
His boss and owner of the yacht Mr Mijeev is the former head of the Russian Helicopter Corporation who took over state-owned weapons supplier Rostec six years ago.
Alexander Mikheev (pictured) is a former head of the Russian Helicopter Corporation who took over state-owned weapons supplier Rostec six years ago
The Lady Anastasia (pictured) was the subject of a ‘revenge’ attack in a Mallorca port on Saturday
The outer walls of the home of Vladimir Putin’s ex-wife (pictured) in Anglet, south-west France, was spray-painted repeatedly with the word ‘f**k’, with one post reading: ‘f**k Poutine’
Artur Ocheretny and Lyudmila Putin’s wooden gates are seen spray-painted with Ukrainian flags and ‘f**k Poutine’
Two other Ukrainian employees on the boat managed to close the valves, preventing the £4.2 million vessel from sinking.
Spanish newspaper Ultima Hora said many tycoons have since ‘activated preventive protection mechanisms’ to avoid being victims of possible attacks on their properties.
Most are aware that the island is a quiet, privileged place but they do not rule out that there may be a domino effect, the paper reported.
Over the last few days, Russian tycoons have hired 24-hour private security services to guard establishments, residences and luxury boats.
Mr Mijeev, owner of the targeted Lady Anastasia, is reported to be maintaining an active security contract authorised by the Ministry of the Interior to protect his other properties.
Another unnamed Russian oligarch, who has a luxurious boat moored in the port of Palma, has taken the same step.
The Russian community has also been reinforcing their security with maintenance, kitchen and cleaning staff staying in their villas in Mallorca for days at a time to prevent them from being empty.
The idea is that they can alert the National Police or Civil Guard in case of an incident.
Mr Ostapchuk was arrested by Civil Guard officers on Saturday and later released on bail.
He said he tried to scuttle Mr Mikheev’s yacht after watching news reports from Ukraine on the television.
‘There was a video of a helicopter attack on a building in Kyiv,’ he was quoted as saying by local media. ‘They were attacking innocents.’
He had worked as a mechanic on the yacht for ten years.
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Mr Ostapchuk today shared a picture of himself as he crossed into Ukraine from Poland at the Rawa Ruska border point, heading to his home in Kyiv where he plans to sign up.
He said: ‘Politics is a thing that changes quickly and so when last week I saw the video of the Russian helicopter shooting missiles at a civilian house in Kyiv I knew I had to do something.
‘I know that Mijeev is the person responsible for making these helicopters and after I saw that video, I thought I have a house like that and it may be hit by a missile so I wanted to take action.
‘What I do want to say is that Mijeev was a good employer and I have no complaints about working for him – it was just the situation with Russia that wound me up.’
The Villa ‘Suzanna’ (pictured) was bought by the Russian businessman Artur Ocheretny, the husband of Lyudmila Putin (ex-wife of Russian President Putin)
The Villa ‘Suzanna’, owned by Russian businessman Artur Ocheretny, the husband of Lyudmila Putin
He previously told Ultima Hora: ‘I have never picked up a gun but if necessary I will.’
He added: ‘As soon as I arrive in the first city in Ukraine, I will look for a military commander and ask him if they need me. I said to myself: why do I need a job if I don’t have my country?
‘Yes, it’s true, I had a good job as chief mechanic on the ship and a good salary, but I’m going to fight for my country.
‘I’ve lost my job but that’s not a problem. I will not lose my country. I am not a hero, I am an old man, but I have a lot of experience in mechanics.’
The Spanish government, through the Ministry of Transport, has reportedly required the Balearic ports to identify Russian yachts that exceed 24 metres in length.
The request, according to the Nautical Gazette, is due to the possibility of immobilising or confiscating them as part of the ongoing sanctions regime against Russia.
The State Maritime Rescue Society has sent a statement to all the marinas and port authorities of the islands so that they can provide them with the requested information.
Mechanical engineer Taras Ostapchuk, 55, the Ukrainian sailor who tried to sink a Russian military supplier’s £5million-plus yacht in Mallorca after war broke out has returned home to take on Vladimir Putin’s army
The 156ft luxury yacht, named Lady Anastasia, was moored at Pord Adriano when it was scuppered
Taras explained how he asked for his salary to be paid in advance and then decided to sink the yacht (pictured) by releasing valves which allowed water to rush in as it was moored at Port Adriano
The Lady Anastasia has five luxury cabins (including the one pictured)
Meanwhile in Anglet, southwestern France, the outer walls and columns of Putin’s ex-wife’s Villa ‘Suzanna’ have been adorned with the words ‘f**k’, with several posts carrying the message: ‘F**k Poutine’ – the French spelling of the Russian president’s surname.
The spray painters used yellow and blue to inscribe the expletives in a clear reference to the colours of the Ukrainian flag – which was also emblazoned on the property’s gates.
The expansive hilltop mansion was bought by the Russian businessman Artur Ocheretny, the current husband of Lyudmila Putin – Vladimir’s ex-wife.
It comes as anger among European populations continues to soar amid the onslaught of Russia’s invasion – which has seen hundreds of innocent civilians killed and thousands of soldiers slain.
Politicians and business leaders are facing mounting pressure to cut any ties with Putin’s regime, as more and more citizens begin to scrutinise the influence of Russian money in their societies.
