Opstapchuk was arrested and appeared before the investigating judge on Sunday. The Ukrainian showed no remorse. “He considers the owner of the yacht a criminal because he earns money by selling weapons that he believes are killing Ukrainians,” the judge wrote in the official report of the interrogation, which has been seen by the AP news agency. The Ukrainian said he was well aware of the activities of his employer.
Images he saw in an online news broadcast of a Russian missile impact on an apartment building in Kiev that resembled his own and that severely damaged five floors, turned a “switch” in his head, he said. “Weapons produced by the yacht’s owner are now being used against my own people,” Ostapchuk said.
He said he thought about what he would do for a few hours before deciding to take revenge. According to the police report of the interrogation, before opening the valves, Opstapchuk closed the fuel taps of the yacht to prevent pollution or damage to others and warned the other crew members, all Ukrainians.
The Guardia Civil told the AP that it could not confirm the statements about the ownership of the yacht. “These luxury boats are usually registered in tax havens under front companies that are not necessarily the ultimate owners,” a spokesperson said on condition of anonymity. The Lady Anastasia was built in New Zealand, flies the flag of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean and is reportedly worth 7 million euros.