Marine Vessels

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, 2024 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).
On June 30, 2025, the US removed sanctions from the ship.
On November 25, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since March 25, 2026, Canada has 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 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 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.
On November 25, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The vessel has been implicated in the export of Ukrainian grain and metal products from the temporarily occupied city of Mariupol to the russian port of Rostov-na-Donu, as well as in the import of reinforced concrete structures and building materials to Mariupol (for the construction of defensive positions 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 temporarily occupied territories (TOT) of Crimea, Ukraine, 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 (ООО "Управляющая компания "Река-Море", TIN 6164275559, IMO 5285932), whose founder and CEO is Arustamov Gennadii Arturovich (Арустамов Геннадий Артурович, TIN 616113680135, under Ukrainian sanctions). Among the customers of Reka-More Managing Company LLC (ООО "Управляющая компания "Река-Море"") are the Ministry of Defence and the security agencies of the russian federation, as well as sanctioned russian companies such as PJSC Shipyard Vympel (ПАО "Судостроительный завод "Вымпел"", TIN 7610015674).

The vessel was involved in the export of Ukrainian grain from the port of Sevastopol (territory of Ukraine temporarily occupied by russia, TOT of Crimea, Ukraine) to the Turkish port of Aliaga, as well as in the delivery of cargo to TOT Ukraine from the Turkish port of Samsun while operating with its Automatic Identification System (AIS) disabled – a standard concealment tactic to obscure port calls to Ukrainian ports located in TOT Ukraine.
The theft of Ukrainian grain involved the russian companies Trading House Fregat LLC (ООО "ТД "Фрегат", TIN 7704388784), Agro-Fregat LLC (ООО "Агро-Фрегат", TIN 6141055691), and the Turkish companies Yasam Tahili Bib Ithalat Ihracat Depolama Tasimacilik Acentelik Ticaret Limited Sirketi and Velar Tarim.
In July 2024, Ukrainian law enforcement authorities detained the vessel in the Ukrainian port of Reni. The vessel's captain was officially notified of suspicion of violating the procedure for entry into and exit from the territory of Ukraine temporarily occupied by russia.
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.

The vessel is involved in the transportation of Ukrainian grain, coal and metal from the TOT of Ukraine with the AIS signal turned off, using the traditional scheme of concealing calls 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 continued to steal Ukrainian grain from the TOT of Ukraine, in particular from the temporarily occupied ports of Sevastopol and Berdiansk, 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.
On November 25, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since July 24, 2026, the EU has imposed sanctions on the vessel.

It is involved in the export of Ukrainian grain from the ports of Sevastopol and Feodosia (TOT Crimea, Ukraine), in particular to Lebanon (addressed to Syrian companies), including transshipment in the russian port of Kavkaz, with the AIS signal switched off, following the traditional scheme of concealing calls to Ukrainian ports in the TOT of Ukraine.
In 2025, the vessel continues to call at the ports of the TOT Crimea of Ukraine. In April 2025, the vessel was under repair in Dock Bay (Northern Dock). In January, March, June 2025, the vessel sailed from Feodosia port to Alexandria port with a cargo of grain.
The russian companies TD Fregat LLC (TIN 7704388784), Agro-Fregat LLC (TIN 6141055691), Agromera LLC ( TIN 9001021176), Syrian companies Nabd Food LLC, Basel Amer Trading Est are involved in the export of Ukrainian grain to Syria.
The vessel is also involved in deliveries of ilmenite to the port of Feodosia, which was previously delivered by the bulk carrier Nour Star to the port of Caucasus from Vietnam.
In addition, in April 2023, the vessel made two voyages from Taganrog to the Turkish port of Tasuku to transport cargo for the Akkuyu nuclear power plant, which Rosatom is building in Turkey.
On November 25, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel.

Since the beginning of 2022, the vessel has been involved in the systematic theft of Ukrainian grain from the TOT of Ukraine (Sevastopol) to Syria, Turkey, as well as transshipment in the port of Kavkaz (russia) with the AIS signal switched off, using a scheme to conceal the fact of the vessel's entry into a closed Crimean port in violation of the state borders of Ukraine, partial loading of the vessel in the TOT of Crimea with subsequent reloading by STS in a russian port and registration of the export of the entire volume of cargo from the russian port. The name 'Maria Ermolova' is used by the vessel to mask its dark activities in the TOT of Crimea during entering/leaving Sevastopol Bay, and at the same time the same name is used by the vessel (IMO 9573816. Thus, on November 29, 2024, both vessels were recorded in Sevastopol Bay under the name 'Maria Ermolova'. TFor this deceptive practice, the two bulk carriers had their bulwarks painted blue, which made both vessels look similar in color, except for the shade of the main bulk carrier's superstructure.
In Ukraine, the captain of the vessel ІМО 9550137 was notified of suspicion.
The vessel is affiliated with the sanctioned russian state-owned shipbuilding holding United Shipbuilding Corporation (TIN: 7838395215) through JSC Southern Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Centre (TIN: 3023004670, under Ukrainian sanctions), which is the founder of the company that owns the vessel ІМО 9550137.
In March-April 2025, the vessel was in Sevastopol Bay, moored at berth 20 of Dokova Bay. On April 02, 2025, the vessel left 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.

The vessel is systematically involved in schemes of stealing grain from the TOT of Ukraine (Sevastopol), violating the legal regime of the TOT of Ukraine using deceptive shipping practices (spoofing, manipulating AIS), as well as concealing the true identification data of the vessel, in particular when passing through the Bosphorus Strait (masking the IMO number and part of the vessel's name) to transport Ukrainian grain and raw materials from the TOT of Ukraine.
Since February 2024, the vessel has made a number of routes and transported more than 78,000 tons of wheat from the temporarily occupied city of Sevastopol to the Syrian ports of Tartus and Latakia.
The sender of the grain is the russian company Pallada LLC (TIN: 6161095847), which was founded on 03 February 2022 and specialises in wholesale grain trading, while in Syria the grain is received by the Syrian General Organisation for Trading, Storage and Processing of Grain, a state-owned company.
In the period from December 17-31, 2024, the vessel was loaded with grain in the temporarily occupied port of Feodosia, and later delivered it to Egypt.
Vessel IMO 9385879 is owned by the russian company JSC "Murmansk Shipping Company" (TIN 5190400250). Since August 2025, the vessel has been operated by the russian company Baltic Charter Group LLC (TIN 7805533290).
Since April 11, 2024, the founder of Baltic Charter Group LLC has been Andriy Anatoliyovych Stepanchenkov (TIN 772203228110), affiliated with Dmytro Yuriyovych Purim (TIN 772018167343, under sanctions of Ukraine) and the sanctioned russian JSC "Sovfracht" (TIN 7702059030). Dmytro Yuriyovych Purim is the chairman of the board of directors of Sovfracht JSC; he is referred to as a "scheme-generating contractor" for generals of the Ministry of Defense and other agencies of the russian federation and has been awarded the "For the Return of Crimea" medal. Sovfracht JSC is part of the sanctioned Sovfracht-Sovmortrans group of companies, known for its role in facilitating the temporary occupation and consolidation of russia’s presence in Crimea. Sovfracht’s ferries transported russian military personnel, equipment, and fuel to Crimea, and its pontoon barges, in violation of sanctions, delivered Siemens turbines to Sevastopol and Feodosia. JSC Sovfracht is a russian transport and logistics company that provides logistical support to the russian Ministry of Defense, and functions as a key hub in the military transport networks of russian cargo ships delivering North Korean weapons (ammunition) from the DPRK to military facilities in the russian port of Dunay for use in the war against Ukraine. The company has extensive experience in organizing logistics along the Northern Sea Route, participates in the implementation of major infrastructure projects, and ensures transport accessibility to russian regions under sanctions. Since March 2020, it has been included in the List of Systemically Important Organizations of the russian federation.
Baltic Freight Group LLC is a supplier to the russian Ministry of Defense under government procurement contracts (according to at least 7 government contracts totaling 568.5 million rubles). Baltic Freight Group LLC also cooperates with JSC Sovfraht on the basis of contractual documents.
On November 25, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel.

Since the beginning of 2022, it has been involved in the systematic theft of Ukrainian grain from the TOT of Ukraine (Sevastopol) and its export to Iran and Syria with the AIS signal switched off, using a scheme to conceal the fact of the vessel's entry into a closed Crimean port in violation of the state borders of Ukraine.
In Ukraine, the captain of the vessel was served a notice of suspicion that in the period from 2023 to January 2024, in violation of Ukrainian legislation and international maritime law, he illegally entered/exited the closed Sevastopol Commercial Sea Port. In the port, the vessel was loaded with grain seized by the aggressor country in the TOT of Ukraine without any permits and then illegally exported outside the customs territory of Ukraine. The captain of the vessel made at least 6 illegal voyages during this period.
The vessel is affiliated with the sanctioned russian state-owned shipbuilding holding United Shipbuilding Corporation (TIN: 7838395215) through JSC Southern Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Centre (TIN: 3023004670, under Ukrainian sanctions), which is the founder of the company that owns the vessel ‘Mikhail Nenashev’.
The sender of the grain is the russian company Pallada LLC (TIN: 6161095847), founded on 03 February 2022, which specialises in the wholesale trade of grain and is involved in the theft of Ukrainian grain from the TOT of Crimea by another vessel ‘Grumant’ (IMO 9385879).
In January 2025, the vessel left the waters of the Black Sea on a course from Sevastopol to Oleksandria with a cargo of grain.
In March-April 2025, the vessel stayed in Sevastopol Bay, loaded with wheat. On April 07, 2025, the vessel departed the Black Sea with a cargo of grain, sailing from Sevastopol to Alexandria.
On May 01, 2025, the vessel entered the Black Sea with a course to the port of Sevastopol. Before that, the vessel delivered a cargo of grain to the port of Alexandria, then loaded in the Turkish port of Gülluk with a cargo of gypsum.
The vessel also stayed in Sevastopol Bay on May 31-June 4, 2025, with AIS turned off, moored at the Avlita berth and loaded with wheat.
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.
On June 12, 2026, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.