Marine vessels

The vessel is involved in stealing Ukrainian grain and exporting it to Turkey, makes calls at the ports of the TOT of Ukraine, violating the state borders of Ukraine. In April 2022, USA imposed sanctions on five vessels, including the "SV Nikolay", affiliated with Alfa-Leasing LLC, a sanctioned subsidiary of Alfa-Bank JSC, as part of the restrictions on Alfa-Bank JSC, the largest private financial institution in russia, which provides financial services to the russian military-industrial complex. Since 16.12.2022 the vessel has been owned and managed by the russian transport company Riversi Plyus LLC.

The vessel is involved in the theft and export of Ukrainian grain from the ports of the TOT of Ukraine with the automatic identification system of the vessel disabled. In mid-September 2022, the Syrian-flagged vessel was one of the first to export 2,500 tonnes of Ukrainian grain to Turkey, which was loaded in the port of the temporarily occupied Berdiansk. The vessel calls at the ports of the TOT of Ukraine (Sevastopol, Kamysh-Burun), delivering construction mixtures from Turkey, and operates ilmenite voyages, delivering raw materials for the russian-seized Crimean Titan titanium enterprise from the Turkish port of Ambarli. The vessel has a history of frequently changing its name, ownership and management to circumvent sanctions imposed on it and continue to operate along established routes. In May 2023, the United States imposed sanctions on the vessel for assisting in the theft of Ukrainian grain and regularly disabling the vessel's automatic identification system to conceal its location and the origin of the cargo being transported.

The vessel is involved in numerous cases of stealing Ukrainian grain, transporting scrap metal from the port of Sevastopol (TOT Crimea, Ukraine) with the AIS signal turned off to Syria (ports of Latakia, Tartus), Lebanon (port of Tripoli) through the Bosporus Strait using the traditional scheme of concealing calls to Ukrainian ports in the TOT of Ukraine. In the theft of Ukrainian grain by the vessel IMO 9385233, there were involved russian companies Agrogreinexport LLC (Moscow, TIN 7734462851, affiliated with the sanctioned Gennadiy Timchenko), Kuban-Forward LLC (Krasnodar, TIN 2308103203). The vessel is affiliated with the Syrian General Organization for Maritime Transport. In 2015, USA imposed sanctions on three vessels of the Syrian General Organization for Maritime Transport, including the vessel IMO 9385233. On December 17, 2024, the EU imposed sanctions on the vessel for facilitating/supporting actions/policies that undermine/threaten the economic existence or food security of Ukraine (e.g., transportation of stolen Ukrainian grain, transportation of stolen Ukrainian cultural property). On December 23, 2024, Switzerland imposed sanctions on the vessel for facilitating/supporting actions/policies that undermine/threaten the economic existence or food security of Ukraine (e.g., transportation of stolen Ukrainian grain, transportation of stolen Ukrainian cultural property). According to the database of the Global Integrated Shipping Information System of the International Maritime Organization (IMO's GISIS), as of July 23, 2025, the vessel's registered name is MONTE BIANCO, and the flag is listed as "Timor-Leste False". At the same time, the vessel sails under the name BAYAZE D, the flag of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.

The vessel is involved in numerous cases of theft of Ukrainian grain from the ports of Feodosia, Sevastopol (TOT of Crimea, Ukraine) with the AIS signal turned off to Syria, Turkey, Egypt through the Bosphorus strait according to the "traditional" scheme of concealing activities to Ukrainian ports at the TOT of Ukraine, as well as in importing to the port of Sevastopol (TOC Crimea, Ukraine) from Bulgaria ilmenite for the Ukrainian plant "Crimean Titan" captured by russia at the TOT Crimea (Ukraine). In 2015, USA imposed sanctions on three vessels of the Syrian state company Syrian General Organization for Maritime Transport, including the "Souria" (current name "San Damian"). On December 16, the EU imposed sanctions on the vessel (effective from December 17, 2024) in relation to the facilitation/support of actions/policies that undermine/threaten the economic existence or food security of Ukraine (e.g., transportation of stolen Ukrainian grain, transportation of stolen Ukrainian cultural property). On December 23, 2024, Switzerland imposed sanctions on the vessel in relation to the facilitation/support of actions/policies that undermine/threaten the economic existence or food security of Ukraine (e.g., transportation of stolen Ukrainian grain, transportation of stolen Ukrainian cultural property). According to GISIS IMO data as of July 15, 2025, the vessel's registered name is SAN DAMIAN, and the flag is designated as "Eswatini False". At the same time, the vessel sails "hiding" under the flag of Eswatini.

Violating the state borders of Ukraine, the vessel repeatedly entered Ukrainian ports on the TOT of Ukraine (Sevastopol, Feodosia) and transported stolen Ukrainian grain. anchorage until 03.08.2023, after which it indicated in AIS the port of destination as the russian Caucasus and headed to the Black Sea. On August 11, 2023, the vessel arrived at Tortuga, an uncontrolled parking lot in the neutral waters of the Black Sea. On August 23, 2023, the vessel turned off AIS and headed for the Crimean coast near occupied Sevastopol. On August 25, 2023, the vessel entered the Sevastopol Bay, moored near the grain terminal of the stevedoring company "Avlita" in Dokov Bay. On August 28, 2023, the vessel left occupied Sevastopol after loading at the Avlita grain terminal. On 31.08.2023, the vessel turned on AIS again, indicating the port of destination Alexandria (Egypt) and changed the status to "loaded". On 09.09.2023, the vessel was waiting at the destination of the port "Alexandria" (Egypt) at parking lot No. А14. In addition, the vessel made a visit to occupied Feodosia in order to load a large batch of sunflower seeds exported from the TOT of the Zaporizhzhia region. The vessel arrived in the Black Sea on October 28, 2023, from the Turkish port of Gulliuk, loaded with feldspar. The vessel went to the port "Novorossiysk" where it unloaded the cargo. After leaving Novorossiysk, the vessel directed its course to Feodosia, where it arrived on 03.12.2023. The vessel was in Feodosia until December 29, 2023. The vessel left the port of Feodosia on 28-29/12/2023, indicating the port of destination Bandirma (Turkey). In 2024, the vessel makes regular calls to the Kerch Strait area, a region of raid grain transshipment. In 2015, USA imposed sanctions on three vessels of the Syrian state company Syrian General Organization for Maritime Transport, including the Laodicea (currently known as San Cosmas). On December 16, the EU imposed sanctions on the vessel (effective from December 17, 2024) in relation to the facilitation/support of actions/policies that undermine/threaten the economic existence or food security of Ukraine (e.g., transportation of stolen Ukrainian grain, transportation of stolen Ukrainian cultural property). On December 23, 2024, Switzerland imposed sanctions on the vessel in relation to the facilitation/support of actions/policies that undermine/threaten the economic existence or food security of Ukraine (e.g., transportation of stolen Ukrainian grain, transportation of stolen Ukrainian cultural property).

Since the end of 2021, it has been involved in regular grain transportation from the TOT of Crimea (in particular, from Kerch and Sevastopol) to Turkish ports (mostly Samsun) with the AIS signal turned off, following the traditional scheme of concealing calls to Ukrainian ports in the TOT of Ukraine. The Turkish agricultural company Bek Tarim, the russian company Fast LLC (TIN 2376000774), and Petrokhleb-Kuban LLC (TIN 2310109650) are involved in the export of Ukrainian grain by ship. The vessel's manager is the russian Kuban Marine Company LLC (IMO 6089531, TIN 2310213041), affiliated with Petrokhleb-Kuban LLC. Kuban Maritime Company LLC also operates another vessels that make illegal voyages to the closed ports of the TOT of Crimea. On June 11, 2025, the vessel IMO 8611221 was loading grain at berth 21 of the Avlita terminal in Sevastopol Bay. On June 12, 2025, the vessel left Sevastopol Bay loaded with wheat and proceeded to the Taman transshipment area. On June 15, 2025, the vessel IMO 8611221 was loading grain at berth 21 of the Avlita terminal in Sevastopol Bay. On June 16, 2025, the vessel left Sevastopol Bay loaded with wheat and sailed to the port of Kavkaz (third cargo area).

It was involved in numerous cases of exporting Ukrainian grain from the port of Feodosia (TOT Crimea, Ukraine) and the temporarily occupied territory of Zaporizhzhia region to the Turkish port of Samsun with the AIS signal turned off, following the traditional scheme of concealing calls to Ukrainian ports in the TOT of Ukraine. The vessel was repeatedly recorded by the Monitoring Group of the Black Sea Strategic Studies Institute and the BlackSeaNews editorial board as having entered the ports of the TOT of Crimea in violation of Ukrainian legislation and international sanctions. The russian companies Agrogroup LLC (TIN 4712030355), Vidan LLC (TIN 7715588288), Turkish companies Trans World Agro Tarim İhracat İthalat Li̇mi̇ted Şi̇rketi̇, and Vtc Tarim Urunleri Gida San Ve Tic LTD STI (tax number 9250466444) are involved in the theft of Ukrainian grain by the ship. During 2022-2023, Vtc Tarim Urunleri Gida San Ve Tic LTD STI imported sunflower oil from russia through temporarily occupied Feodosia, where the sender was the russian sanctioned State Unitary Enterprise State Grain Operator (TIN 9001011019). The latter is engaged in the export of agricultural products from the temporarily occupied Melitopol.

It is involved in the export of Ukrainian grain and metal products from the temporarily occupied Mariupol to the russian port of Rostov-na-Donu, as well as in the import of reinforced concrete structures and building materials to Mariupol (to equip fortifications and fortifications). The vessel has been repeatedly recorded by the Monitoring Group of the Black Sea Institute for Strategic Studies and the BlackSeaNews editorial board as having called at the ports of the TOT of Crimea in violation of Ukrainian legislation and international sanctions. The vessel is also involved in deliveries of ilmenite to the port of Feodosia. The vessel belongs to the sanctioned russian company Reka-More Managing Company LLC (TIN 6164275559, IMO 5285932), whose founder and CEO is Arustamov Gennadii Arturovich (TIN 616113680135, is under Ukrainian sanctions). Among the customers of the services provided by Reka-More Managing Company LLC are the Ministry of Defense and the security agencies of the russian federation, as well as sanctioned russian companies such as PJSC Shipyard Vympel (TIN 7610015674).

It was involved in the export of Ukrainian grain from the port of Sevastopol (TOT Crimea, Ukraine) to the Turkish port of Aliaga, as well as in the delivery of cargo to the TOT of Ukraine from the Turkish port of Samsun with the AIS signal turned off, following the traditional scheme of concealing calls to Ukrainian ports in the TOT of Ukraine. The russian Trading House Fregat LLC (TIN 7704388784), Agro-Fregat LLC (TIN 6141055691), and Turkish companies Yasam Tahili Bib Ithalat Ihracat Depolama Tasimacilik Acentelik Ticaret Limited Sirketi and Velar Tarim were involved in the theft of Ukrainian grain. In July 2024, Ukrainian law enforcement agencies arrested the vessel in the Ukrainian port of Reni, and the captain was notified of suspicion of violating the procedure for entry/exit to/from the TOT of Ukraine.

The vessel is involved in the transportation of Ukrainian grain from the port of Sevastopol (TOT Crimea, Ukraine) with the AIS signal turned off, using the traditional scheme of concealing calls to Ukrainian ports in the TOT of Ukraine, in particular to Iran, Syria, and Yemen. The russian companies Aval LLC (TIN 7720314451, under Ukrainian sanctions), Pallada LLC (TIN 6161095847), and the Syrian state-owned company "The General Organization for trading, storage and processing of grain" were involved in the theft of Ukrainian grain by the vessel. Pallada LLC has repeatedly been involved in the theft of Ukrainian grain. In addition, in July 2024, the vessel received a UN permit to unload Ukrainian grain in the port of Salif (Yemen). Thus, the stolen grain was delivered from the temporarily occupied Sevastopol to Yemen for the first time. On April 02, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on a ship that delivered at least two shipments of stolen Ukrainian grain from the TOT of Crimea to Yemen, organized in the summer and autumn of 2024 by sanctioned russian Afghan businessmen Hushang Ghairat and his brother Sohrab Ghairat. On June 25-30, 2025, the vessel was loaded with wheat at berth 21 of the Avlita grain terminal in Sevastopol Bay.

Involved in the export of Ukrainian grain from the port of Sevastopol (TOT Crimea, Ukraine) to the Iranian port of Bandar Imam Khomeini, to Syria and Yemen with the AIS signal turned off, following the traditional scheme of concealing calls to Ukrainian ports in the TOT of Ukraine. The russian companies Aval LLC (TIN 7720314451, under Ukrainian sanctions), Pallada LLC (TIN 6161095847), and the Syrian state-owned company "The General Organization for trading, storage and processing of grain" were involved in the theft of Ukrainian grain by the vessel. Pallada LLC has repeatedly been involved in the theft of Ukrainian grain. In April 2024, Security Service of Ukraine served the ship's captain with a notice of suspicion of violating the procedure for entry/exit to/from the TOT of Ukraine. On December 24-29, 2024, the vessel was loaded with wheat (33.25 thousand tons) in the port of Sevastopol. On January 09, 2025, the vessel was recorded in the Egyptian port of Damietta. On January 19, 2025, in the Black Sea, the vessel was sailing to the port of Sevastopol after delivering a cargo of grain to the Egyptian port of Damietta. In the period from January 22-27, 2025, the vessel was on loading in Sevastopol Bay, the port of destination of the grain cargo was the port of Alexandria (Egypt). After delivering the grain cargo from the TOT of Ukraine to Egypt, the vessel arrived at the Turkish shipyard Altinova. On June 12, 2025, the vessel sailed into the Komyshov Bay with its AIS turned off in advance off the coast of Turkey.

The vessel is involved in the smuggling of Ukrainian grain, coal and metal with the AIS signal turned off, following the traditional scheme of concealing entries to Ukrainian ports in the TOT of Ukraine. In May 2023, the vessel changed its name, flag, and management, after which it refocused on illegal voyages to the ports of the TOT of Crimea. The vessel under the former name Salvinia was transporting ilmenite (the main raw material for titanium production) from Chornomorsk to the Romanian port of Constanta, from where the raw materials were picked up by the sanctioned Syrian vessel Souria (new name - San Damian, IMO 9274331) and delivered to the temporarily occupied Feodosia. Since June 2023, the vessel has made at least five illegal calls to the closed ports of Sevastopol and Feodosia, delivering cargo from the TOT of Crimea to the Turkish port of Bartin and for transshipment to the port of Kavkaz in the Kerch Strait. During one of the vessel's calls to the port of Sevastopol, another name "Cristal-2" was painted on the stern to conceal its real name. The russian companies Kuban-Forward LLC (TIN 2308103203), TD Fregat LLC (TIN 7704388784), and the Turkish company Mesci̇er Metal Mamülleri̇ Pazarlama Sanayi̇ Ve Ti̇caret Li̇mi̇ted Şi̇rketi̇, which has a metallurgical plant in Bartyn, are involved in the export of Ukrainian metal products and Ukrainian grain to Turkey. In February 2024, the Security Service of Ukraine served the ship's captain with a notice of suspicion of violating the procedure for entry/exit to/from the TOT of Ukraine. In 2024, the vessel continues to steal Ukrainian grain from the TOT of Ukraine, in particular from the port of Sevastopol, by manipulating the AIS signal. During 2024-2025, the vessel shipped, in particular, to Egypt, about 40,000 tons of Ukrainian coking coal from the temporarily occupied Ukrainian port of Mariupol using the following scheme: officially calls at the russian port of Temryuk; turns off the automatic identification system (AIS); sails to the port of Mariupol for loading; returns to Temryuk with the cargo; turns on the AIS; sails to the port of destination. The vessel is operated by the russian company Krechet LLC (TIN 6167197524, Rostov region), the former CEO of which is Oleksandr Soldatov (TIN 614104187473), the current director (since July 27, 2023) of the occupation Mariupol Seaport Administration (TIN 9310000303). Krechet LLC manages three other vessels (IMO 9045601, IMO 1041348, IMO 9454125) involved in the transportation of Ukrainian coal from the temporarily occupied Mariupol.