Marine Vessels

The vessel is owned by a sanctioned russian transport company, TK Northern Project LLC, which specialises in sea freight transport via the Northern Sea Route, provides year-round cargo delivery to the ports of the Far North and the Arctic coast, ensures cargo flow to Europe and Asia, and owns an unlimited dry cargo fleet of 7-12,000 dwt. tonnes, transports general, groupage, mixed and non-standard cargo, special machinery, equipment, containerised cargo, and is licensed to transport dangerous goods of all categories.
In May 2022, USA imposed sanctions on TK Northern Project LLC over the transportation of weapons to russia by the company's vessels, and sanctions were also imposed on 15 of the company's vessels, including the "Siberia".
On October 19, 2022, Ukraine imposed sanctions on TK Northern Project LLC.
The vessel calls at ports in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine (Sevastopol, Feodosiya) and is involved in the theft of Ukrainian grain.
On August 14, 2026, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel.

Since late 2021, the vessel has been regularly engaged in transporting grain from the temporarily occupied territory (TOT) of Crimea – including from Kerch and Sevastopol – to Turkish ports, primarily Samsun, while disabling its Automatic Identification System (AIS) signal. This follows the established pattern of concealing port calls to Ukrainian ports located in TOT Ukraine. The scheme has involved the Turkish agricultural company Bek Tarim, as well as the russian companies Fast LLC (ООО "Фаст", TIN 2376000774) and Petrokhleb-Kuban LLC (ООО "Петрохлеб-Кубань", TIN 2310109650).
The vessel has been implicated in grain theft schemes involving the temporarily occupied port of Berdiansk, Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, in February, March, April, May, June, July, August, and September 2024, as well as in April and June 2025.
On 11 June 2025, the vessel (IMO 8611221) was observed loading grain at berth 21 of the Avlita terminal in Sevastopol Bay. On 12 June 2025, it departed Sevastopol Bay loaded with wheat and proceeded to the Taman ship-to-ship (STS) transshipment area. On 15 June 2025, the vessel was again loading grain at berth 21 of the Avlita terminal. The following day, 16 June 2025, it departed loaded with wheat and sailed to Port Kavkaz (third cargo area).
The vessel’s manager is the russian Kuban Marine Company LLC (ООО "Кубанская морская компания", IMO 6089531, TIN 2310213041), affiliated with Petrokhleb-Kuban LLC. Kuban Marine Company LLC also operates other vessels that conduct unlawful voyages to closed ports in TOT of Crimea, Ukraine.
On November 25, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel.

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.
On November 25, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since December 19, 2025, the EU has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since January 13, 2026, Switzerland has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
In June 2026, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

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.
On November 25, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since December 19, 2025, the EU has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since January 13, 2026, Switzerland has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
In June 2026, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

Since the start of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the aggressor has been using this vessel to systematically transport Ukrainian grain from the port of Sevastopol—which Ukraine has closed—with its AIS signal turned off, and to deliver the stolen grain to destinations including Iran, Syria, and Egypt.
The russian company LLC "Pallada" (TIN 6161095847) is listed as the shipper of the stolen Ukrainian grain. Pallada LLC was founded on February 3, 2022, specializes in wholesale grain trade, and is involved in the theft of Ukrainian grain from Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territories by other vessels (including IMO 9385879, IMO 9515539, and IMO 9573816).
On January 29, 2025, the vessel was en route to the port of Sevastopol after delivering a cargo of grain to the port of Alexandria.
Between April 9 and 14, 2025, the vessel was in Sevastopol Bay. On April 18, 2025, the vessel was en route from the port of Sevastopol to the port of Aleksandria, loaded with grain.
On May 10, 2025, the vessel entered the Black Sea in the direction of the port of Sevastopol. Prior to this, the vessel had delivered a cargo of grain to the port of Alexandria and loaded a cargo of gypsum at the Turkish port of Güllük.
On June 3, 2025, the vessel departed the Black Sea waters loaded with grain, heading from the port of Sevastopol to the port of Alexandria.
On November 25, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On May 5, 2026, the vessel was moored at berth 21 of the Avlita grain terminal in the port of Sevastopol.

The vessel is involved in a scheme to theft grain from the TOT of Ukraine and export it to third countries (in particular, Turkey) through raid transshipment in the russian port of Kavkaz.
For example, in 2022, almost 21,000 tonnes of wheat were stolen using the vessel ІМО 9296781, owned by the Kuban Maritime Company LLC. This bulk carrier was used to load grain in the port of Kavkaz from the vessels ІМО 8602957, ІМО 8611221, ІМО 8226428, which transported the stolen grain from the TOT of Crimea. In addition, grain stolen from the Ukrainian port of Berdiansk by the TOT in Zaporizhzhia region was loaded onto the bulk carrier ІМО 9296781.
The vessel calls at ports in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, in particular the port of Kamysh-Burun in July 2025 and the port of Kerch in October 2025.
On November 25, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since July 24, 2026, the EU has imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The vessel is involved in multiple instances of the export of Ukrainian grain from the temporarily occupied port of Mariupol (temporarily occupied territory – TOT Ukraine). It was documented in russian propaganda footage from the TOT port of Mariupol during the loading of grain onto several russian-flagged vessels: STK-1003 (IMO 8326058), STK-1016 (IMO 8521880), and Mezhdurechensk (IMO 8948167). The vessel is owned by the russian company Remote Marine Terminal LLC (ООО "Удалённый морской терминал", TIN 7810707496).
Grain was loaded onto these russian vessels by several entities:
- Santrade LLC (formerly Sanagro LLC, ООО "Сантрейд", TIN 6168119060, Rostov-on-Don), a company engaged in the wholesale of grain, unprocessed tobacco, seeds, and animal feed. In 2023, the company was involved in loading Ukrainian wheat onto all three vessels. Its founder, M. Y. Mishchuk, is also the founder of three companies registered in the TOT of Donetsk region that trade agricultural commodities (primarily grain): AF Agroservice LLC (ООО "АФ Агросервис", TIN 9306001978), Aleksandrovskoye LLC (ООО "Александровское", TIN 9312009862), and Donagroalliance LLC (ООО "Донагроальянс", TIN 9309020224), as well as a metallurgical company – Donetsk Foundry Plant LLC (ООО "Донецкий литейный завод", TIN 9308024353);
- Zorka Food LLC (ООО "Зорка Фуд", TIN 9721152398, Moscow), which specializes in the wholesale of food, grain, and related products;
- Asta Group LLC (ООО "Аста Групп", TIN 9303017257, TOT Donetsk), also specializing in the wholesale of grain, unprocessed tobacco, seeds, and animal feed. Its founder, R. N. Asatryan, owns Agro-Soyuz Farming Enterprise LLC (КФХ "Агро-Союз", TIN 9500011198, TOT Kherson region), engaged in the cultivation of cereals (excluding rice), legumes, and oilseeds, as well as Complex Supply Don LLC (ООО "Комплексное снабжение Дон", TIN 6166085722, Rostov-on-Don), which manufactures vehicle bodies and conducts non-specialized trade.

The vessel has been implicated in multiple grain theft schemes involving the export of Ukrainian grain from the temporarily occupied port of Mariupol (TOT Ukraine). It was recorded in russian state propaganda footage from the temporarily occupied port of Mariupol during the loading of grain onto several russian vessels: STK-1003 (IMO 8326058), STK-1016 (IMO 8521880), and Mezhdurechensk (IMO 8948167).
The vessel is owned by the russian company Remote Marine Terminal LLC (ООО "Удалённый морской терминал", TIN 7810707496).
Grain was loaded onto the russian vessels by several companies:
– Santrade LLC (formerly Sanagro LLC, TIN 6168119060, Rostov-on-Don), specialising in the wholesale trade of grain, unprocessed tobacco, seeds, and animal feed. In 2023, the company loaded Ukrainian wheat onto all three vessels. The founder of Santrade LLC, M.Y. Mishchuk, is also the founder of three other companies registered in the TOT of Donetsk region and trading in agricultural crops (mainly grain): AF Agroservice LLC (TIN 9306001978), Aleksandrovskoye LLC (TIN 9312009862), and Donagroalliance LLC (TIN 9309020224), as well as a metallurgical enterprise – Donetsk Foundry LLC (TIN 9308024353).
– Zorka Food LLC (TIN 9721152398, Moscow), specialising in the wholesale trade of food products, grain, and related goods.
– Asta Group LLC (TIN 9303017257, TOT Donetsk), specialising in the wholesale trade of grain, unprocessed tobacco, seeds, and animal feed. The founder of Asta Group LLC, R.N. Asatryan, also owns Farm Agro-Soyuz LLC (TIN 9500011198, TOT Kherson region), which specialises in growing cereals (except rice), legumes, and oilseeds; and Complex Supply Don LLC (TIN 6166085722, Rostov-on-Don), which manufactures vehicle bodies and conducts non-specialised trade.
The vessel has also been implicated in grain theft schemes involving the removal of Ukrainian grain from the temporarily occupied port of Berdiansk, Zaporizhzhia region, in December 2023.

The vessel has been implicated in a grain theft scheme involving the export of stolen Ukrainian grain from the temporarily occupied territory (TOT) of Crimea, Ukraine, to Turkey, by reloading in a russian port grain previously exported from the TOT of Crimea, Ukraine, by the vessel Akubens (IMO 8891364).
On 2 July 2023, Sword Lion arrived in the Kerch Strait from Port Karadeniz Ereğli (Turkey) with a draft of 6 metres and remained there until 27 July 2023. It then increased its draft to 9.6 metres and proceeded to the outer anchorage of Port Haifa (Israel). The declared recipient of the agricultural cargo was the Israeli company ADM Industries Centers Ltd (Beit Dagan). According to the company’s official records, Sword Lion delivered a shipment of barley labelled as having European origin — a claim that was false.
The vessel arrived at Haifa’s outer anchorage on 3 August 2023 but did not enter the port, likely due to the public disclosure of the grain theft scheme. Between 9 and 10 August 2023, the vessel sailed to the coast of Cyprus and anchored at the outer roads of Port Famagusta, remaining there until 15 August 2023 without entering port, likely for the same reasons. It subsequently proceeded to the anchorage of Port Iskenderun (Turkey), where, after six days at anchor with AIS disabled, it entered the port and discharged the grain at a berth operated by a subsidiary of the russian Magnitogorsk Metallurgical Plant.
In 2025, the vessel calls at ports in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

The vessel has been implicated in transporting Ukrainian coal and grain from the temporarily occupied territory (TOT) of Ukraine and has made port calls at ports in the TOT of Ukraine. On 4 June 2024, the vessel was present in the temporarily occupied closed port of Sevastopol, with its Automatic Identification System (AIS) disabled during the port call.
During 2024–2025, the vessel transported more than 20,000 tons of coking coal from the temporarily occupied Ukrainian port of Mariupol, including shipments to Turkey, using the following scheme: it officially called at the russian port of Temryuk; disabled AIS; proceeded to the port of Mariupol for loading; returned to Temryuk with cargo; reactivated AIS; and then sailed to the final port of destination.
The vessel is owned and operated by Nika Shipping LLC (ООО "Ника Шиппинг", TIN 9303032939), a company established under russian law in April 2023 and originally registered in the TOT of Donetsk region (city of Donetsk) at the same address as another russian company, Nika Trade Invest LLC (ООО "Ника Трейд Инвест", TIN 9303023317). In 2025, Nika Shipping LLC was re-registered at an address in Moscow. Nika Trade Invest LLC specialises in the extraction of minerals and kaolin, as well as coal enrichment. Information on the company’s director and founders is not publicly disclosed, which may indicate their involvement in fulfilling the russian state defence order. By the end of 2024, Nika Trade Invest LLC’s revenue had increased by almost 80% to RUB 1.6 billion. In March 2024, the company became a resident of the russian federation’s free economic zone as a kaolin enrichment enterprise and was granted access to the unique "Bila Balka" deposit located near the temporarily occupied city of Volnovakha.
Nika Trade Invest LLC is affiliated with Lyudmila Gurova (TIN 616103297808), the majority beneficiary of another russian company, Roboavia LLC (ООО "Робоавиа", TIN 9102166435, under Ukrainian sanctions), which develops and manufactures unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the Rostov region of the russian federation. In 2023, Roboavia LLC signed an agreement with the Rostov regional authorities to implement an investment project. The company is constructing a plant in the city with the aim of producing 1,100 drones annually. In September 2023, Roboavia LLC also became a resident of the "Era" Military Innovation Complex — a project of the russian Ministry of Defence for the development of advanced weapons.
Technical management of the vessel is carried out by Krechet LLC (ООО "Кречет", Rostov region, TIN 6167197524). The company’s former director, Oleksandr Soldatov (TIN 614104187473), has been serving since 27 July 2023 as the head of the occupation Administration of the Mariupol Seaport (Администрация морского порта Мариуполь, TIN 9310000303). Krechet LLC also manages three other vessels (IMO 1041348, IMO 9419084, IMO 9454125) engaged in exporting Ukrainian coal from the temporarily occupied port of Mariupol.
On August 14, 2026, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The vessel has been implicated in grain theft schemes involving shipments from the temporarily occupied territory (TOT) of Ukraine by loading grain via ship-to-ship (STS) transfer from the russian vessels IMO 8721272 and IMO 8959219, which had exported grain from the TOT of Crimea, Ukraine. The vessels IMO 8721272 and IMO 8959219 were arrested in absentia by a Ukrainian court in 2022 for violating the procedure for entering the TOT of Ukraine.

The vessel is involved in schemes of stealing Ukrainian grain from the TOT of Crimea (Ukraine). In particular, the vessel used the STS method to load grain in the Kerch Strait from the russian vessel IMO 8946377, which had exported stolen Ukrainian grain from the closed port of Sevastopol (TOT Crimea, Ukraine).
In 2023, the vessel regularly resorted to the practice of conducting so-called 'dark' activity in the transshipment area in the Kerch Strait, which has been actively used by russia since 2023 to carry out STS transshipment with other vessels, in particular, to 'legalize' stolen Ukrainian grain, redirecting it to third countries under the guise of grain of russian origin.
On November 25, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel.