Marine vessels

It makes calls at the ports of the TOT of Crimea and is involved in the export of russian oil products from ports in the Sea of Azov. In April 2022, USA imposed sanctions on five vessels, including the tanker "Lady Sevda", affiliated with Alfa-Leasing LLC, a sanctioned subsidiary of Alfa-Bank JSC, as part of the restrictions imposed on Alfa-Bank JSC, the largest private financial institution in russia that provides financial services to the russian military-industrial complex. Since 25.11.2022, the vessel has been owned and managed by the russian shipping company Region Express Tanker LLC (registration number 9705160842, Moscow).

The vessel was used together with the зassenger/Ro-Ro ship ‘Lavrentiy’ (IMO 8647866) at the Kerch ferry crossing, carrying out cargo and passenger transportation, including in the interests of the russian ministry of defence, with regular calls to the port of Kerch (TOT Crimea, Ukraine), violating the state borders of Ukraine. In December 2023, after repairs, the vessel returned to the strategically important Crimea-Caucasus line, which, according to Oboronlogistika LLC, is focused on the delivery of civilian and construction cargo to the TOT of Donbas. In May 2022, USA imposed sanctions on three vessels, including the "Maria E", affiliated with the russian sanctioned company Oboronlogistika LLC, a russian shipping company operating as part of the military construction complex of the russian ministry of defence. The main tasks of Oboronlogistika LLC are to meet the needs of the russian ministry of defence in the transportation, storage and production of military and special-purpose goods. Oboronlogistika LLC is the sole provider of transport services for the ministry of defence of russia, transporting troops to certain regions of russia and delivering cargo to the temporarily occupied Crimea (Ukraine).

Vessel makes calls at the ports of the TOT of Crimea (Ukraine) and is involved in the transportation of russian oil products after the G7 and EU oil embargo and price-cap policy at $60 per barrel of russian oil came into effect. It is owned by the sanctioned Covart Energy Limited (Hong Kong). The company has sharply increased its share in the russian oil trade after the price-cap policy was introduced. Since May 2023, vessels chartered by Covart have been making frequent calls to russian ports. The vessel is affiliated with the sanctioned russian company Rosewood shipping LLC (TIN 6167088540), a shipping company specialising in the logistics of oil products using its own fleet. The founder of Rosewood shipping LLC is Yug Energo LLC (TIN 6167088571). The management company of Rosewood shipping LLC is a sanctioned russian company, NZNP Management JSC (TIN 9725007881), which is affiliated with NZNP JSC (one of the largest suppliers of oil products in southern russia, TOT of Ukraine). In December 2023, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The vessel is involved in the military logistics network of the russian federation in the interests of the ministry of defense of the russian federation on the territory of Syria, in particular, for the movement of fuel and lubricants (aviation fuel) from/to the point of logistical support of the Navy of the Armed Forces of the russian federation at the ports "Tartus" and "Banyas" (Syria) ) and the port "Kavkaz" (russian federation) with the AIS signal turned off. The involvement of "Yaz", which belongs to the fleet of the russian sanctioned shipping company Transpetrochart LLC, in the supply of aviation fuel for the russian troops in Syria took place after the application of sanctions in September 2016 to JSC "Sovfracht" - one of the largest independent transport and forwarding companies of russia. which acts as a key node in the military transport network of russian cargo vessels that deliver North Korean weapons to military facilities, which are then transported to weapons depots on russia's western border for use in the war against Ukraine. The vessel has been making calls to the ports of TOT Crimea (Ukraine) since 2017, involved in the transportation of petroleum products from the port of Feodosia (TOT Crimea, Ukraine) to Syria (Tartus port) in February 2024, in December 2023 with AIS turned off. In September 2019, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel "Yaz".

The vessel makes regular calls to and from the ports in the territory temporarily occupied by russia in Crimea (Sevastopol, Kerch). In particular, on 23 January 2024, it entered Sevastopol Bay, and on 21 March 2024, the tanker entered Sevastopol Bay with its Automatic Identification System (AIS) disabled. According to AIS data, the vessel arrived from the russian port of Temryuk.

It calls at the ports of Crimea (Ukraine) with the AIS signal turned off. In particular, on 13 March 2024, the vessel entered Sevastopol Bay with the AIS signal switched off to conceal its entry into the closed port of the TOT of Crimea. To avoid sanctions, the vessel's AIS signal has been switched off since 13 October 2023. Back in July 2012, the vessel was arrested by Georgia for calling at the russian-occupied port of Sukhumi (Abkhazia).

It is involved in the supply of jet fuel and other important cargo to the Middle East (to the group of Russian troops in Syria in the interests of the russian Ministry of Defence), and calls at the ports of the TOT of Ukraine (in particular, the port of Crimea). In 2024, three tankers ‘Azov’ (IMO 8943260), ‘Koysug’ (IMO 8883252), and ‘Nizami Ganjavi’ (IMO 9369617) were added to the list of vessels used by the russian federation to make covert deliveries to Syria in the interests of the russian ministry of defence. During 2024, the vessels were repeatedly used by the russian federation to carry out maritime transportation from the black sea ports of the russian federation to Syria under the traditional scheme of concealing entries/exits to/from ports in Syria by switching off their transponders in the Mediterranean north or south of Cyprus. Aviation fuel and diesel were supplied to Syria from russian ports (Azov port), petrol - from Iran. Such steps were taken by Russia after the successful attacks in 2023 by the Ukrainian Defence Forces against the russian tanker ‘Sig’ in the Black Sea, which was carrying out sea transport to Syria to supply jet fuel to the russian troops in Syria.

The vessel has been implicated in the supply of jet fuel and other strategic cargoes to the Middle East for the russian armed forces’ contingent in Syria, acting in the interests of the Ministry of Defence of the russian federation (Министерство обороны российской федерации). It has made port calls at terminals in the temporarily occupied territory (TOT) of Ukraine, including the port of Crimea. In 2024, the tankers Azov (IMO 8943260), Koysug (IMO 8883252), and Nizami Ganjavi (IMO 9369617) were added to the list of vessels used by the russian federation for covert deliveries to Syria in the interests of the Ministry of Defence. Throughout 2024, these vessels were repeatedly deployed for voyages from Black Sea ports of the russian federation to Syria, following the established concealment pattern of disabling Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders in the Mediterranean Sea, either north or south of Cyprus, to obscure port entries and departures in Syria. Aviation fuel and diesel were shipped from russian ports, including the port of Azov, while petrol was supplied from Iran. These measures were adopted by the russian federation following successful 2023 Ukrainian Defence Forces strikes on the russian tanker Sig in the Black Sea, which had been engaged in transporting jet fuel to Syria for the russian military contingent.

It is involved in the supply of jet fuel and other important cargo to the Middle East (to the group of Russian troops in Syria in the interests of the russian Ministry of Defence), and calls at the ports of the TOT of Ukraine (in particular, the port of Crimea). In 2024, three tankers ‘Azov’ (IMO 8943260), ‘Koysug’ (IMO 8883252), and ‘Nizami Ganjavi’ (IMO 9369617) were added to the list of vessels used by the russian federation to make covert deliveries to Syria in the interests of the russian ministry of defence. During 2024, the vessels were repeatedly used by the russian federation to carry out maritime transportation from the black sea ports of the russian federation to Syria under the traditional scheme of concealing entries/exits to/from ports in Syria by switching off their transponders in the Mediterranean north or south of Cyprus. Aviation fuel and diesel were supplied to Syria from russian ports (Azov port), petrol - from Iran. Such steps were taken by Russia after the successful attacks in 2023 by the Ukrainian Defence Forces against the russian tanker ‘Sig’ in the Black Sea, which was carrying out sea transport to Syria to supply jet fuel to the russian troops in Syria. From July 20, 2025, the EU imposed sanctions on a tanker for transporting crude oil/petroleum products that originate in russia or are exported from russia using irregular and high-risk shipping practices as set out in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly resolution A.1192 (33). On August 12, 2025, Switzerland imposed sanctions on the vessel.

During the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price-cap policy on russian oil, the tanker is involved in the export of oil to third countries from russian ports in the Baltic Sea, transshipment of russian oil from ship to ship in the area of anchorages in Greece and Malta. The transshipment of oil from ship to ship off the coast of Greece and Malta is reminiscent of the activities of the so-called 'STS hubs' that emerged several years ago in the UAE, Oman and Malaysia in response to USA sanctions against Venezuelan and Iranian oil. This methodology is aimed at concealing the origin, ownership and final destination of questionable cargo. The tanker resorts to the practice of turning off the AIS signal, conducting so-called 'dark activities', in particular in the Baltic Sea. The tanker calls at ports in TOT Crimea, Ukraine, in particular, in May 2025, the vessel called at the port of Komysh-Burun. The owner and commercial manager of the vessel is Ethereal Harbor Corp, a company registered in the Seychelles. The ISM manager of the tanker is Harmony Voyage Shipmanagement, a Kazakh company. The fleet of these companies consists only of the tanker ІМО 9206671. Against the backdrop of sanctions, russia is using a scheme of 'juggling' ships between related companies to conceal oil exports outside the price cap and other restrictions, as well as to hide the real owners of ships, and to ensure unimpeded transportation of fossil fuels by a 'shadow' fleet of outdated oil tankers, creates new companies for these purposes (in the UAE, Hong Kong, India, Turkey, Mauritius, Seychelles, and other jurisdictions) with non-transparent organizational and ownership structures. In order to implement this scheme, technical/commercial management and ship owners are constantly changing, and vessels are renamed with a change of flag, MMSI, call-sign, including for sanctioned vessels. Shadow fleet vessels operate under 'convenient flags', which allows them to conceal their true origin and avoid control by international organizations and insurance companies. The international non-governmental organization Greenpeace classifies tanker IMO 9206671 as part of russia's shadow fleet. The shadow fleet of russia, transporting huge volumes of crude oil through heavily trafficked routes through narrow straits close to the coastline, without proper P&I insurance, with automatic identification systems disabled, threatens an environmental disaster with significant economic costs to be borne by the affected coastal countries and/or the international community. Tshadow fleet' continues to generate billions of dollars in revenue for the Kremlin bypassing sanctions, disguising its activities under the flags of third countries, using complex schemes to conceal owners, and poses significant environmental threats with significant economic costs to coastal countries and/or the international community due to the outdated and inadequate insurance of shadow fleet tankers. On April 11, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the master of vessel IMO 9206671. On May 20, 2025, the EU imposed sanctions, which enter into force on May 21, 2025, on the tanker for the transportation of crude oil/petroleum products originating in or exported from russia, using irregular high-risk shipping practices as specified in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly Resolution A.1192(33). On June 03, 2025, the sanctions imposed by Switzerland on the vessel came into force. On July 21, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker is involved in the export of russian oil to third countries, in systematic violations of the G7+ oil embargo on russian oil in 2024, in particular in the export of russian oil from russian ports in the Black Sea to the Laconikos Gulf. The tanker calls at the ports of the TOT of Ukraine, in particular, in March 2025, the vessel called at the ports of Feodosia and Komysh-Burun of the TOT of Crimea of Ukraine. On December 17, 2024, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on a vessel in connection with the transportation of oil or oil products originating in russia or from russia to a third country. On February 21, 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel. On February 24, March 04, 2025 EU and Switzerland respectively imposed sanctions on the tanker for transporting crude oil/oil products originating in or exported from russia using irregular and high-risk shipping practices as specified in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly resolution A.1192 (33); promoting or supporting actions/policies aimed at the exploitation, development or expansion of the energy sector in russia, including energy infrastructure (EU sanctions will enter into force on February 25, 2025). In June 2025, Australia imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker is involved in the export of russian oil to third countries, in systematic violations of the G7+ oil embargo on russian oil in 2023-2024, in particular in the export of russian oil from russian ports in the Black Sea to the Laconikos Gulf, to the west of the island of Kithira. The vessel calls at the ports of the Crimean TOT of Ukraine. In January and March 2023, the tanker was involved in the export of several batches of oil products from the russian port of Tuapse, the shipper of the cargo was the sanctioned PJSC Oil Company Rosneft, the recipients were the sanctioned companies Petrokim Trading Middle East and Asia DMCC (Voliton DMCC, UAE), Guron Trading Limited (Hong Kong). There is a production complex in Tuapse belonging to the sanctioned Rosneft - the Tuapse Refinery with a marine terminal. In 2025, the vessel continues to call at russian ports with oil terminals, including Nakhodka and Slavyanka. The vessel is affiliated with the Indian company Gatik Ship Management and the Turkish company Unic Tanker Gemi Isletmeciligi, which is affiliated with Gatik. In 2022, the Indian company Gatik Ship Management became the largest carrier of russian oil and was used to operate the russian 'shadow' fleet under sanctions. On December 17, 2024, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on a vessel in connection with the transportation of oil or oil products originating in russia or from russia to a third country.  On February 21, 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel. On May 20, 2025, the EU imposed sanctions, which enter into force on May 21, 2025, on the tanker for the transportation of crude oil/petroleum products originating in or exported from russia, using irregular high-risk shipping practices as specified in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly Resolution A.1192(33). On June 03, 2025, the sanctions imposed by Switzerland on the vessel came into force. In June 2025, Australia imposed sanctions on the vessel.