Marine Vessels

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 is involved in the export of Ukrainian grain from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, in particular from the port of Sevastopol.
The vessel makes port calls at terminals in the temporarily occupied territories (TOT) of Crimea, Ukraine, in particular, delivering cargo from Turkey. On 20 April 2024, it entered the temporarily occupied port of Sevastopol, mooring at berth 20 of Avlita (opposite the grain terminal) at coordinates 33.5496, 44.6256. The vessel had arrived from the Turkish port of Bartin, where it was loaded between 14 and 17 April 2024. Its AIS signal was switched off between 17 and 26 April 2024. This direct voyage from Turkey with cargo to the TOT of Crimea, Ukraine, constitutes a violation of Turkish Circular 635/2017 and International Maritime Organization Resolution 1183.
On November 25, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The vessel is involved in the theft of Ukrainian grain from the TOT of Ukraine (from the ports of Sevastopol and Berdiansk) and its transportation to third countries.
On 23 April 2024, the vessel switched off its AIS off the Turkish coast, and entered the temporarily occupied Sevastopol on 25 April 2024, where it was moored at berth 20. On 29 April 2024, the vessel was moved to berth 21 for loading at the Avlita grain terminal (listed in russian registers as Aval). ‘Sofia' left the port of Sevastopol loaded with wheat on 02 May 2024, according to the documents, the grain was registered for delivery to Bangladesh, the port of destination was indicated as Caucasus in the schedule of movement through the closed port of Sevastopol, the ship's captain was Sergey Ryzhov.
The vessel also made three calls to the closed port of Sevastopol in July 2024 with the AIS switched off, loading and exporting more than 18,000 tonnes of barley from the TOT of Crimea.
On November 18, 2024, the vessel was in Sevastopol Bay, moored to the port side to the bulk carrier Neptune at berth 20 of Dokova Bay. On November 26, 2024, the vessel was moved to berth 19.
In May, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December 2024, the vessel was involved in the transportation of barley and wheat from the temporarily occupied port of Berdiansk in Zaporizhzhia region, in particular to Egypt and Libya.
In January 2025, the vessel called at the port of Sevastopol three times (21 berths of the Avlita grain terminal) and departed loaded with wheat.
In February and March 2025, the vessel was involved in the transportation of grain from the temporarily occupied port of Berdiansk, Zaporizhzhia region.
On April 02-09, 2025, the vessel was in Sevastopol Bay on loading wheat at berth 21 of the Avlita grain terminal.
In the period of April 16-18, 2025, the vessel was in Sevastopol Bay on loading wheat at berth 21 of the Avlita grain terminal with AIS turned off. On April 18, the vessel left Sevastopol Bay and sailed to the port of Kavkaz loaded with wheat.
On June 08-13, 2025, the vessel was in Sevastopol Bay, Dokova Bay, to load grain. On June 13, 2025, the vessel left Sevastopol Bay loaded with wheat and sailed to the port of Kerch.
On June 16-18, 22-25, 2025, the vessel was in Sevastopol Bay for loading grain at berth 21 of the Avlita grain terminal. On June 18 and 25, 2025, respectively, the vessel left Sevastopol Bay loaded with wheat.
On November 25, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The vessel has been implicated in grain theft schemes involving the export of Ukrainian grainfrom ports in the temporarily occupied territory (TOT) of Crimea (Ukraine), with its Automatic Identification System (AIS) disabled. In particular, in December 2023, the vessel transported Ukrainian grain from the temporarily occupied port of Berdiansk, Zaporizhzhia region.
Between 22– 23 March and 2– 5 April 2024, the vessel was present in the port of Sevastopol with AIS disabled. On 23 March 2024, the vessel departed Sevastopol loaded with wheat, declaring the Port Kavkaz (russia) as its destination. On 5 April 2024, it again departed Sevastopol with wheat on board.
Since 2022, the vessel has also been operating on the Bronka– Kaliningrad ferry route, connecting the Leningrad and Kaliningrad regions of russia.

The vessel has been implicated in grain theft schemes involving shipments from the port of Sevastopol (temporarily occupied territory – TOT of Crimea, Ukraine) with the Automatic Identification System (AIS) disabled, as well as from the temporarily occupied port of Berdiansk in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region.
In March– April 2024, the vessel was observed in Sevastopol between 15 and 22 March, and in Komyshov Bay between 31 March and 4 April with AIS disabled. On 4 April, it departed Sevastopol loaded with sunflower meal and bran.
Since 2022, the vessel has been operating on the Bronka– Kaliningrad ferry route, connecting the Leningrad and Kaliningrad regions of russia.

The vessel is involved in the theft of Ukrainian grain from the port of Sevastopol (TOT Crimea, Ukraine) with AIS disabled.
In particular, the vessel was at the berth of Dokova Bay on 13 March 2024 loading grain, and between 31 March and 04 April 2024 with AIS switched off. On 04 April, the vessel left the port of Sevastopol loaded with grain (barley) and headed for a transshipment area in the Kerch Strait.
The vessel systematically calls at the ports of the TOT of Crimea of Ukraine.

The vessel has been implicated in grain theft schemes involving the export of Ukrainian grain from ports in the temporarily occupied territory (TOT) of Crimea (Ukraine), with the Automatic Identification System (AIS) disabled, and in its subsequent export, including to Port Kavkaz for transshipment. The vessel has been used in a scheme to "legalize" the stolen Ukrainian grain by redirecting it to third countries under the guise of russian-origin grain.
The vessel has made, and continues to make, frequent port calls in the TOT of Ukraine, including Sevastopol, Kerch, and Feodosia. Published evidence confirms its visits to the closed port of Sevastopol and its involvement in grain transportation.
A Ukrainian court has seized the vessel as part of criminal proceedings for violations of the procedure for entry to and exit from the temporarily occupied territory.

The vessel has been implicated in grain theft schemes involving the port of Sevastopol (TOT of Crimea, Ukraine), with the Automatic Identification System (AIS) disabled, and in the export of this grain to third countries through ship-to-ship (STS) transshipment in the Kerch Strait area.
In particular, the vessel made a port call at the closed port of Sevastopol on 4– 5 July 2022 with AIS switched on, confirming its violation of Ukraine’s state border. Between 17– 20 July 2022, the vessel’s AIS was disabled; during this period, it called at the port of Sevastopol and loaded 3,000 tonnes of barley at the grain terminal in Dokova Bay (owned by Avlita and controlled by the United Shipbuilding Corporation (Объединённая судостроительная корпорация, USC)). On 19 July 2022, the vessel departed Sevastopol Bay and proceeded to conduct STS operations in the Kerch Strait. On 20 July 2022, AIS was enabled again. Evidence confirming port calls at the TOT of Crimea, Ukraine was recorded by the vessel’s master and published on a social media platform.
The Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine served the vessel’s master with a notice of suspicion for violating the procedure for entering and leaving the temporarily occupied territory. In 2022, the vessel was arrested in absentia by a Ukrainian court.

The vessel has been implicated in grain theft schemes involving shipments from ports in the temporarily occupied territory (TOT) of Crimea, Ukraine, during which its Automatic Identification System (AIS) was disabled, followed by transshipment operations in the Kerch Strait area. It has violated the so-called "Crimean sanctions" by making port calls at closed Ukrainian ports in the TOT of Crimea, Ukraine. This activity forms part of a broader scheme to "legalise" stolen Ukrainian grain by redirecting it to third countries under the guise of grain of russian origin.
In June 2022, the russian-flagged vessel transported more than 12,000 tons of wheat and barley from the temporarily occupied closed port of Sevastopol for transshipment to the Port Kavkaz (russian federation).
The vessel has been seized by a Ukrainian court in the framework of criminal proceedings related to violations of the procedure for entry into and exit from the temporarily occupied territory.

The vessel has been implicated in grain theft schemes involving the ports of the TOT (temporarily occupied territory) of Crimea, Ukraine, operating with its AIS (Automatic Identification System) disabled and conducting transshipment in the Kerch Strait area, including Port Kavkaz. russia has sought to conceal the origin of Ukrainian grain exported through the ports of the TOT of Crimea, Ukraine by using various methods, including ship-to-ship cargo transfers in the Kerch Strait. Through these actions, the vessel has participated in a scheme to "legalise" stolen Ukrainian grain and redirect it to third countries under the guise of russian-origin grain.
In September 2022, the vessel made two voyages carrying grain from the temporarily occupied Sevastopol – specifically from the Avlita grain terminal controlled by the United Shipbuilding Corporation (Объединённая судостроительная корпорация) – for transshipment in the Kerch Strait area, including Port Kavkaz.
A Ukrainian court has seized the vessel as part of criminal proceedings related to violations of the procedure for entering and leaving the temporarily occupied territory.

The vessel is involved in the theft of Ukrainian grain from the ports of the TOT of Crimea (Ukraine) with AIS disabled and its transshipment to the port of Caucasus. russia is trying to conceal the origin of Ukrainian grain exported through the ports of the TOT of Crimea, using various methods, including the tactic of overloading cargo in the Kerch Strait and russian ports. In this way, the vessel is involved in a scheme to "legalise" stolen Ukrainian grain and redirect it to third countries under the guise of grain of russian origin.
In the summer of 2022, the vessel made a voyage to the temporarily occupied Sevastopol (in particular, the Avlita grain terminal controlled by the United Shipbuilding Corporation) to load wheat (4.6 thousand tonnes), after which the ship delivered the grain to the port of Kavkaz (russia) for transshipment.
A Ukrainian court arrested the vessel in the framework of criminal proceedings on violations of the procedure for entering and leaving the temporarily occupied territory.

The vessel has been implicated in grain theft schemes involving shipments from the closed port of Sevastopol (TOT of Crimea, Ukraine) with its Automatic Identification System (AIS) signal disabled, followed by the export of grain to third countries through ship-to-ship (STS) transshipment operations in the Kerch Strait area and the Port Kavkaz. This method enables russia to conceal the Ukrainian origin of the stolen grain and sell it to third countries as grain of russian origin.
The vessel made its first port call in Iran on 27 August 2024 and is currently operating on routes between Astrakhan (russia) and Amirabad (Iran). The change in the vessel’s operational area is linked to a change of ownership and management in July 2024. The vessel’s previous owner and manager was Falero Shipping Co Ltd (IMO 5925865), an offshore company registered in the Seychelles.