Freeze and seize? EU struggles to target oligarchs' assets

FILE PHOTO: Eclipse, a superyacht linked to sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, is docked in the Turkish tourist resort of Marmaris, Turkey March 22, 2022. REUTERS/Yoruk Isik/File Photo

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Oligarchs' wealth remains largely untouched in the European Union, weeks after Brussels approved measures to freeze the assets of dozens of billionaires and top officials linked to Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.

Every week since war broke out on Feb. 24, the EU has introduced new sanctions on Russia, adding nearly 700 top politicians, businessmen and military staff to its blacklist - including 42 super rich "oligarchs" such as Chelsea soccer club owner Roman Abramovich and banking tycoon Mikhail Fridman.