Ukraine arrests ship involved in illegal grain transport from Crimea, part of Russian shadow fleet

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) press service reported the information.

“The Security Service detained and arrested a foreign vessel that assisted the Rashists (a derogatory term combining 'Russian' and 'fascist' to refer to Russian forces and those who support the war - ed.) in stealing Ukrainian agricultural products from the temporarily occupied regions of our country. The detention of the bulk carrier occurred as a result of a special operation carried out by the SBU and the State Border Guard Service in the inland waters of the Black Sea,” the statement states.

According to the investigation, the arrested vessel was part of Russia's shadow fleet, which Moscow uses, among other things, to sell stolen Ukrainian grain to third countries.

The investigation reveals that in 2024, the vessel exported 5,000 tons of wheat stolen from the temporarily occupied territories of southern Ukraine, departing from the port of Sevastopol. To conceal its involvement in the crime, the vessel operated under the flag of an Asian state.

During the search of the vessel, authorities found documents, navigation equipment, and other material evidence that confirmed the looting of Ukrainian agricultural products.

“After the arrest of the bulk carrier and the detention of its crew, investigative actions are ongoing to establish all the circumstances of the Kremlin's crimes and bring the perpetrators to justice,” the SBU concluded.