The US Treasury Department said on FridayExternal link that Vekselberg, who has an estimated $6 billion (CHF5.6 billion) fortune, has close links with Russian President Vladimir Putin and former president Dmitry Medvedev.
The US accused Vekselberg of acting on behalf of Putin and of being a key player in Russia’s technology sector through his holding company Renova.
“Furthermore, Vekselberg has taken part in Russian diplomatic and soft power activities on behalf of the Kremlin,” the statement read.
The yacht, called Tango, and the private aircraft have an estimated combined value of $180 million.
Renova also has significant stakes in Swiss manufacturing and real estate companies, which were reduced when Vekselberg was previously hit with US sanctions in 2018.
Besides having to reduce his ties to Swiss companies in 2018, Vekselberg also faced having his bank account closed by the financial arm of the Swiss post office.
Viktor Vekselberg: a discreet Russian oligarch in Switzerland
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Russian billionaire Viktor Vekselberg, a target of recent US sanctions, has deep ties to Switzerland stretching back many years.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
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Legal action filed against Swiss purchase of Israeli drones
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Legal action aims to put an end to the delivery of the six Elbit reconnaissance drones already plagued by delays and setbacks.
Higher direct payments fail to curb scrub encroachment on alpine pastures
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The scrub encroachment on Swiss alpine pastures leads to the loss of grassland and damages the typical landscape. It is also responsible for the decline in biodiversity. Despite higher direct payments, the bushes continue to spread.
Head of Swiss financial regulator’s Banks division quits
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Thomas Hirschi, head of the Banks division of the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA will leave at the end of August.
Swiss population satisfied with life according to survey
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In a survey, the population of German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland expressed general satisfaction with their lives. Respondents were less happy with politics and their personal finances, according to the online comparison service Moneyland.
WHO ‘extremely concerned’ about growing vaccination scepticism
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According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), vaccination scepticism and a collapse in funding for vaccination campaigns pose a major threat to the health of the world's population.
High-net-worth individuals prioritise well-being over material possessions
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The priorities of wealthy private individuals have shifted against the backdrop of ongoing geopolitical tensions and trade disputes. While spending on luxury goods is declining, demand for travel and experiences is unabated.
Swiss researchers sequence genome of 1918 Spanish flu virus
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Researchers from the Universities of Basel and Zurich (UZH) have sequenced the genome of the Spanish flu virus, thanks to a sample taken from an 18-year-old Swiss boy who died in the city on the Limmat in 1918, when the pandemic spread around the world.
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.