Sea vessels

Involved in the transportation of weapons for the russian federation. In August 2023, the vessel moved thousands of containers to russian ports, which likely contained North Korean ammunition (at least 11 deliveries between the North Korean port of Rajin and russian ports). It is owned by the sanctioned russian shipping company M Leasing LLC. In May 2022, USA imposed sanctions to the company's vessels transporting weapons, including "Angara". In June 2024, EU imposed sanctions on a vessel in connection with the transport of goods and technologies used in the russian defence and security sector to wage war in Ukraine. In July 2024, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on a vessel for transporting military cargo from a third country to russia or to territories not controlled by the Ukrainian government. On October 17, 2024, Switzerland imposed sanctions on the vessel in connection with transportation from/to russia of goods and technologies used in the defense and security sector, as well as for use in russia or for the war in Ukraine.

The vessel is involved in the transportation of weapons (ammunition) from North Korea to russia for use in the war against Ukraine. The vessel was also spotted in India in 2022 with weapons on board. The vessel is certified by the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping. It is owned by the sanctioned russian maritime shipping company MG-Flot LLC (previous name Transmorflot LLC). MG-Flot LLC is linked to Astrakhan businessman Pashayev Jamaldin Emirmagomedovich, who built his business around the commercial port of Olya in the Astrakhan region. This place was proposed as a key logistic hub of the international transport corridor "North-South", the creation and construction of which was supervised and controlled by former russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov. The key purpose of the transportation corridor was to trade with sanctioned Iran, which could import and export goods via the North-South route. In May 2022, USA imposed sanctions on Transmorflot LLC and its vessels involved in the transportation of weapons for the russian federation. In June 2024, EU imposed sanctions on the vessel in connection with the transport of goods and technology used by the russian defence and security sector to wage war in Ukraine. On October 17, 2024, Switzerland imposed sanctions on the vessel in connection with transportation from/to russia of goods and technologies used in the defense and security sector, as well as for use in russia or for the war in Ukraine.

It is involved in the transportation of Iranian UAV-related equipment across the Caspian Sea. On 10 September 2024, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel as the property of the sanctioned russian shipping company Wholesale Company Vafa LLC, whose vessels transported Iranian UAV equipment.

The vessel is involved in the military logistics network of the russian federation and numerous deliveries of military equipment and ammunition from the DPRK to the russian federation with the automatic identification system turned off. The vessel is operated by the sanctioned russian shipping company JSC Sovfracht, which provides logistical support to the russian ministry of defense and functions as a key node in the military transport networks of russian cargo vessels delivering North Korean weapons from Pyongyang to military facilities in the russian port of Danube. The ammunition delivered by the company's vessels is transported to weapons depots on russia's western border for use in the war against Ukraine. The previous manager of the vessel was the sanctioned russian company LLC Shipping Company Asia, which is a cargo carrier for the russian ministry of defense. In December 2023, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel as part of a group of commercial vessels that delivered significant amounts of military equipment and ammunition provided by the DPRK to russia. In June 2024, EU imposed sanctions on the vessel in connection with the transport of goods and technology used by the russian defence and security sector to wage war in Ukraine. On October 17, 2024, Switzerland imposed sanctions on the vessel in connection with transportation from/to russia of goods and technologies used in the defense and security sector, as well as for use in russia or for the war in Ukraine.

It is involved in the transportation of weapons (ammunition) from North Korea and South Africa to russia. The vessel is certified by the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping. It is owned by the sanctioned russian maritime shipping company MG-Flot LLC (previous name Transmorflot LLC). MG-Flot LLC is linked to Astrakhan businessman Pashayev Jamaldin Emirmagomedovich, who built his business around the commercial port of Olya in the Astrakhan region. This place was proposed as a key logistic hub of the international transport corridor "North-South", the creation and construction of which was supervised and controlled by former russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov. The key purpose of the transportation corridor was to trade with sanctioned Iran, which could import and export goods via the North-South route. In May 2022, USA imposed sanctions on Transmorflot LLC and its vessels involved in the transportation of weapons for the russian federation. In June-July 2024, EU and UK also imposed sanctions on the vessel. On October 17, 2024, Switzerland imposed sanctions on the vessel in connection with transportation from/to russia of goods and technologies used in the defense and security sector, as well as for use in russia or for the war in Ukraine.

It is involved in the transportation of ammunition from Iran to russia via the Caspian sea for use in the war against Ukraine. On September 10, 2024, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel as the property of the sanctioned russian shipping company More Reka Service LLC, whose vessels transported ammunition from Iran to russia.

It was involved in transportation of military cargoes (ammunition, shells, armored vests and helmets) from Iran to russia via the Caspian Sea with AIS disconnection. The vessel is also mentioned as being involved in trade cooperation between Iran and russia. From July 2022 to June 2023, the russian-flagged vessel called 11 times at the Iranian ports of Amirabad, Nowshahr, Astara, Anzali, from which it departed for the russian port of Astrakhan and in the opposite direction. The Iranian port of Amirabad is the key point of Iranian drone shipments to russia. Drones are delivered from Tehran to the Iranian port of Amirabad, from where they are transported by sea to Makhachkala, and then by airplanes and ground transportation to launching airfields near the Ukrainian border - Seshcha at the north, in the Bryansk region, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk at the south, in the Krasnodar region. There is a practice of incorrect display of the vessel's load, in some voyages it is impossible to identify the place of loading/unloading. The vessel practises disconnection of AIS near the port, as a result of which the port call is not recorded. On 10 September 2024, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The vessel belongs to the sanctioned russian shipping company SK-Yug LLC, a subsidiary of the sanctioned russian company Oboronlogistika LLC. Oboronlogistika LLC. Oboronlogistika LLC is a shipping company that operates within the military construction complex of the russian ministry of defence. The main objectives 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 russian ministry of defence, transporting troops to certain regions of russia and delivering cargo to temporarily occupied Crimea (Ukraine). In May 2022, the U.S. imposed sanctions on vessel as a property of SK-Yug LLC. Engaged by russia for important maritime logistics operations since 2018. The design, certification and capabilities of the Sparta IV make it an excellent transit vessel for large military equipment. Its volumetric payload capacity, two cranes capable of lifting up to 55 tonnes and overall displacement mean the vessel can easily transport heavy military cargo such as the T-90 tanks deployed in Syria. In 2023, the vessel made at least 6 voyages between the military ports of Tartus, Syria and Novorossiysk, russia: 14-25 January, 01-06 March, 8-15 April, 16-25 May, 25 June-15 July (reportedly unloading military equipment at the port of Novorossiysk), and 10 August. On each of these voyages, the Sparta IV only called at terminals of the russian naval base. Among the cargoes carried could be missiles for the S-300 SAM system, which is regularly used to shell Kharkiv and frontline Ukrainian cities. Thus "Sparta IV", heading from Syria to the port of Novorossiysk with heavy cargo, on the night of Sunday 05.03.2023 passed the Bosphorus Strait with probably the mentioned missiles on board. The vessel was loaded at the russian naval base in Tartus, Syria. Military vehicles were involved in the loading and the vessel's large holds were opened at the time. When the Sparta IV passed the Bosphorus, it had a draft of 6.2 metres (20 feet), which implies a heavy load. In addition, the Sparta IV had already delivered military cargoes in August 2022. At that time, russian missiles for the S-300 SAM system were unloaded from the vessel in Novorossiysk. The russian federation continues to use cargo vessels to move cargo, including military cargo, through the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits. During 2022-2023, these straits were crossed by russian cargo vessels affiliated with Oboronlogistika LLC, namely: "Sparta IV", "Ursa Major", "Sparta II". The said vessels were operating on the routes Novorossiysk Port (russia) - Bosphorus - Dardanelles - Tartus Port (Syria). On 15.07.2023 the vessel "Sparta IV" in the port of Novorossiysk was involved in loading artillery systems (probably M-46, D-30 or 2B16 "Nona"), which were delivered by the vessel to the Syrian port of Tartus on 07.08.2023. After that the vessel returned to the port of Novorossiysk, and already on 30.08.2023 made a call to the port of Sevastopol (TOT Crimea), where it made a call on 30.08.2023 in an empty state for scheduled repairs. In 2024, the vessel continued to operate on the Novorossiysk (russia) - Tartus (Syria) line. In particular, in February 2024, the vessel sailed from Novorossiysk to Tartus together with the tanker ‘Yaz’ (IMO 9735323), the rollers ‘Lady Maria’ (IMO 9220641) and ‘Baltic Leader’ (IMO 9220639), which were first used on the Novorossiysk-Tartus line. In June 2024, the vessel was deployed on the St Petersburg - Kaliningrad container line, where it made two colonies. At the end of June 2024, the vessel made a crossing of the North Sea. It is likely that the vessel will be engaged in the summer to deliver cargoes required for the construction of a new terminal and field development from the port of Arkhangelsk to the port of Bukhta Sever.

It was involved in transportation of military cargoes (ammunition, shells, armored vests and helmets) from Iran to russia via the Caspian Sea with AIS disconnection. The vessel is also mentioned as being involved in trade cooperation between Iran and russia. From July 2022 to June 2023, the russian-flagged vessel called 15 times at the Iranian ports of Amirabad, Nowshahr, Astara, Anzali, from which it departed for the russian port of Astrakhan and in the opposite direction. The Iranian port of Amirabad is the key point of Iranian drone shipments to russia. Drones are delivered from Tehran to the Iranian port of Amirabad, from where they are transported by sea to Makhachkala, and then by airplanes and ground transportation to launching airfields near the Ukrainian border - Seshcha at the north, in the Bryansk region, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk at the south, in the Krasnodar region. There is a practice of incorrect display of the vessel's load, in some voyages it is impossible to identify the place of loading/unloading. The vessel practises disconnection of AIS near the port, as a result of which the port call is not recorded. The owner of the vessel is the russian LLC "Declaration Firm "VTS-Broker" (TIN 3017037318), which is part of the structure of "VTS Group of Companies", positioned as the largest freight forwarder in the Astrakhan region in the market of transportation and logistics services for general, tare and piece cargoes and containers in russia and the Caspian littoral states. The company's fleet includes seven dry-cargo vessels. Among the company's main clients are sub-sanctioned russian PJSC Mechel (TIN 7703370008), Gazprom Dobycha Astrakhan LLC (TIN 3006006420). On 10 September 2024, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the vessel.

It was involved in the transportation of ammunition from Iran to russia across the Caspian sea in February 2024. The vessel started calling Iranian ports in 2019-2020. From August 2022 to June 2023, the russian-flagged vessel called 13 times at the Iranian ports of Amirabad, Nowshahr, Anzali, from which it departed for the russian ports of Astrakhan, Makhachkala, Olya and in the opposite direction. The ship practiced disabling its AIS near the port, resulting in no fixed port call. The Iranian port of Amirabad is a key point of Iranian drone shipments to rf. The drones are delivered from Tehran to the Iranian port of Amirabad, from where they are transported by sea to Makhachkala, and then by airplanes and ground transportation to launching airfields near the Ukrainian border - Seshcha at the north, in the Bryansk region, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk at the south, in the Krasnodar region. On 10 September 2024, USA and United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The vessel makes calls at the ports of the TOT of Crimea (Ukraine) and is involved in regular deliveries of Shahed 136/131 UAVs from Iran to russia via the Caspian Sea with the AIS signal disabled. From Tehran, the drones are delivered to the Iranian port of Amirabad, from where they are vesselped to Makhachkala by sea. Then, the drones and launchers are transported by air and land to launching sites near the borders of Ukraine - Seshcha in the north, in Bryansk Oblast, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in the south, in Krasnodar Krai. It is also involved in violations of the 'Crimean sanctions'. Ladoga shipping company LLC, a shipping company based in Astrakhan on the Caspian Sea, whose vessels previously entered the temporarily occupied Crimea and transported military cargo for delivery to the Iranian military on behalf of Rosoboronexport. In February and September 2024, the vessel was subject to sanctions imposed by USА and United Kingdom, respectively.

It is involved in the transportation of russian export weapons to India through the Bosphorus Strait. It is owned by the sanctioned russian maritime shipping company MG-Flot LLC (previous name Transmorflot LLC). In May 2022, USA imposed sanctions on Transmorflot LLC and its vessels involved in the transportation of weapons for the russian federation. MG-Flot LLC is linked to Astrakhan businessman Pashayev Jamaldin Emirmagomedovich, who built his business around the commercial port of Olya in the Astrakhan region. This place was proposed as a key logistic hub of the international transport corridor "North-South", the creation and construction of which was supervised and controlled by former russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov. The key purpose of the transportation corridor was to trade with sanctioned Iran, which could import and export goods via the North-South route.