The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has detained a vessel from Russia’s shadow fleet that had transported five thousand tonnes of stolen Ukrainian grain from the occupied Crimea.
According to the SBU press service, the operation was conducted jointly with border guards in the inland waters of the Black Sea.
According to the investigation, the detained vessel was part of the so-called Russian shadow fleet, which Moscow uses to illegally export Ukrainian agricultural products from the temporarily occupied territories and sell them abroad.
In 2024, the vessel transported 5,000 tonnes of wheat stolen in southern Ukraine from the port of Sevastopol. To conceal its route and affiliation with Russian schemes, it flew the flag of an Asian country.
A search of the vessel revealed documents, navigational equipment and other material evidence confirming the vessel’s involvement in the illegal transport of Ukrainian grain.
The crew was detained and the investigation is ongoing.
