The Security Service of Ukraine detained a foreign cargo ship and its captain in the waters off Odessa, who were working for the Russian Federation. The ship sailed under the flag of a Central African country, and its crew executed orders from Russia to export Ukrainian grain from the occupied Crimea.
According to the investigation, during 2023-2024, the ship repeatedly docked at the port of Sevastopol to take away looted agricultural products. Subsequently, the vessel transported the cargo to the Middle East for sale on behalf of the aggressor country. To disguise the crime, the captain periodically disabled the ship's GPS tracker and falsified route and docking log entries. In this way, he assisted Russians in exporting multi-ton batches of Ukrainian grain stolen from the occupied regions in southern Ukraine.
The investigation revealed that the captain of the cargo ship is a citizen of a South Caucasus country. In addition to him, the ship's crew included 12 other foreigners. During a search aboard the vessel, documents, navigation equipment, and other material evidence of criminal activity were found.
Based on the materials obtained, the Security Service informed the ship's captain of suspicion under Article 332-1 Part 2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (violation of the procedure for entry into and exit from the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine). The issue of applying a preventive measure is being decided. The perpetrator faces up to 5 years in prison.
As part of the criminal proceedings, the vessel and its perpetrator were towed to Odessa and arrested by court order. The investigation continues to establish all circumstances of the crime and other individuals involved in illegal activities.
Comprehensive measures were conducted by SSU officers in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Odessa region, jointly with the maritime units of the State Border Guard Service under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor's Office in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol.
