The Security Service of Ukraine has formally charged the captain of a shadow fleet vessel linked to illegal cargo operations in occupied Crimea. According to investigators, the vessel was intercepted in Odesa in December 2025 while attempting to depart the port under the flag of an African state, carrying a consignment of steel pipes.
The SSU established that in late 2024, the same captain commanded a sanctioned tanker that called at the port of Kerch, where approximately 2,000 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) were loaded for export to third countries.
The investigation also found that in January 2021, a bulk carrier under his command illegally transported nearly 7,000 tonnes of grain from Crimea to North Africa.
Authorities say the operator repeatedly changed the vessel’s flag to obscure its identity, and that the captain deliberately switched off AIS during voyages to avoid detection while calling at ports in occupied territory.
At the time of detention in Odesa, the vessel had a crew of 16, all nationals of Middle Eastern countries. The captain is also reported to be a national of the region.
Searches conducted on board uncovered voyage plans, pilot charts, navigational materials, and radio communication logs, all of which reportedly confirm illegal port calls in Crimea.
The captain has been charged with violations of entry and exit procedures for temporarily occupied territories. If convicted, he faces up to five years’ imprisonment.
