Marine Vessels

The vessel is involved in transporting weapons from Iran to russia for use in the war against Ukraine.
The vessel is owned by the sanctioned russian shipping company MG-Flot LLC (formerly Transmorflot LLC). MG-Flot LLC is associated with Astrakhan businessman Jamaldin Emirmagomedovich Pashayev, who built his business around the Olya trade port in Astrakhan region (he owns/controls a network of companies operating in the Olya port). This particular location was proposed as a key logistics hub for the North-South international transport corridor, the creation and construction of which was overseen and controlled by former russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov. The key purpose of the transport corridor was to trade with sanctioned Iran, which could import and export goods via the North-South route. Pashayev's companies have been involved in russian exports of military goods since 2021, and have concluded more than 200 agreements on the sea transportation of military goods to countries around the world. Pashayev and his companies are an integral part of the ongoing transfer of goods to the sanctioned russian JSC ‘SEZ PVT Alabuga’, one of the main plants for the assembly of UAVs with the support of Iran for the needs of the russian Ministry of Defence.
The vessel ‘Port Olya-4’ regularly sails the Caspian Sea, transporting cargo between Iran and russia.
On 10 September 2024, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel as the property of the sanctioned MG-Flot LLC.
On August 14, 2025, a ship loaded with components for Shahed-type UAVs and ammunition from Iran was hit by an attack on the port of Olya (Astrakhan region, russian federation) by the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
On May 23, 2026, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel.
In June 2026, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

In 2023– 2024, the vessel was used to transport weapons, including military equipment and ammunition, to russia.
It is owned by the sanctioned russian shipping company MG-Flot LLC (ООО "МГ-Флот"; formerly Transmorflot LLC – ООО "Трансморфлот"). MG-Flot LLC is linked to Astrakhan businessman Jamaldin Emirmagomedovich Pashayev, who built his business around the Port of Olya in Astrakhan region, owning and controlling a network of companies operating there. This location was proposed as a key logistics hub for the North– South International Transport Corridor, the creation and construction of which was overseen by former russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov. The primary purpose of the corridor was to facilitate trade with sanctioned Iran, enabling it to import and export goods via the North– South route.
Since 2021, companies owned by Pashayev have been involved in russian exports of military-related goods, concluding over 200 agreements for the maritime transportation of military cargo to destinations worldwide. Pashayev and his companies are an integral part of the ongoing supply chain to the sanctioned russian JSC SEZ PVT Alabuga (АО "ОЭЗ ПВТ "Алабуга"), one of the main UAV assembly plants operating with Iranian support for the needs of the russian ministry of defense.
The vessel Kompozitor Rakhmaninov regularly operates in the Caspian Sea, transporting cargo between Iran and russia.
On 10 September 2024, the United States imposed sanctions on the vessel as property of the sanctioned MG-Flot LLC.
In December 2025, the ship was hit by Ukrainian defense forces.
On May 23, 2026, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel.
In June 2026, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The vessel has been implicated in transporting ammunition from Iran to the russian federation via the Caspian Sea for use in russia’s war against Ukraine.
On September 10, 2024, the United States designated the vessel as property of the sanctioned russian shipping company More Reka Service LLC (ООО "Море Река Сервис"), whose vessels have transported ammunition from Iran to russia.
In June 2026, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The vessel has been involved in the transportation of Iranian UAV-related equipment across the Caspian Sea.
On 10 September 2024, the United States imposed sanctions on the vessel as the property of the designated russian shipping company Wholesale Company Vafa LLC (ООО "Оптовая фирма "Вафа"), whose vessels have transported Iranian UAV-related equipment.
In June 2026, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

It has been involved in the transportation of Iranian UAV-related equipment across the Caspian Sea.
On 10 September 2024, the United States imposed sanctions on the vessel as the property of the designated russian shipping company Wholesale Company Vafa LLC (ООО "Оптовая фирма "Вафа"), whose vessels have transported Iranian UAV-related equipment.
In June 2026, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The vessel has been implicated in the transportation of ammunition from Iran to russia via the Caspian Sea for use in the war against Ukraine.
On September 10, 2024, the United States imposed sanctions on the vessel as the property of the sanctioned russian shipping company More Reka Service LLC (ООО "Море Река Сервис"), whose vessels transported ammunition from Iran to russia.
In June 2026, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The vessel is involved in the delivery of military equipment and personnel of the russian armed forces to the TOT of Zaporizhzhia region (Ukraine).
On May 26, 2023, the vessel "V.USPENSKIY", which left the Rostov Commercial Sea Port of the russian federation, having passed the waters of the internal waters of the russian federation and the sea of Azov, entered the maritime space of the temporarily occupied Berdiansk Commercial Sea Port of Ukraine, where it unloaded military equipment delivered from the territory of the russian federation to berth No. 10. After that, on May 28, 2023, the military equipment was taken out of the port under the protection of the Pantsyr-C1 anti-aircraft missile and gun system to the permanent deployment points of the russian armed forces in the TOT of Zaporizhzhia region.
The authorized body of Ukraine has served a notice of suspicion of aiding and abetting in the conduct of aggressive war on the Deputy Minister of Transport of the russian federation, Alexander Poshyvay, and the head of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Administration of the Sea Ports of the Azov Sea" Sergey Safonichev, as well as on the change of the previously announced suspicion to the head of the Federal Agency for Sea and River Transport of the Russian Federation Zakhary Dzhioev. Since September 2022, russian officials have allowed the use of the capacities of the Berdiansk seaport for the transportation of military equipment and personnel of the military formations of the russian federation, organized and provided conditions for the timely transportation by sea of personnel of the armed forces and other armed formations of the russian federation, military equipment, and munitions to the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine, thereby providing means and removing obstacles for the top military and political leadership of the russian federation to wage an aggressive war against Ukraine.
The vessel is involved in the theft of grain from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine (the port of Sevastopol).
The vessel regularly calls at ports in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, in particular in June, July, and October 2025 at the port of Krym, in September 2025 at the port of Kamysh-Burun, and in November 2025 at the port of Kerch.
On November 25, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The vessel is involved in the delivery of military equipment from the russian federation and the territory of the TOT of Zaporizhzhia region (Ukraine), and calls at the ports of the TOT of Crimea (Ukraine).
On May 23, 2023, the vessel ІМО 9931226, which left the Caucasian Sea Commercial Port of the russian federation, crossed the Azov Sea and entered the sea space of the temporarily occupied Berdiansk Sea Commercial Port of Ukraine, where it unloaded military equipment delivered from the territory of the russian Federation to berth 10. After that, on May 28, 2023, the military equipment was taken out of the port under the protection of the 'Pantsyr-C1' anti-aircraft missile and gun system to the permanent deployment points of the russian armed forces in the TOT of Zaporizhzhia region.
The authorized body of Ukraine has served a notice of suspicion of aiding and abetting in the conduct of aggressive war on the Deputy Minister of Transport of the russian federation, Alexander Poshyvay, and the head of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Administration of the Sea Ports of the Azov Sea" Sergey Safonichev, as well as on the change of the previously announced suspicion to the head of the Federal Agency for Sea and River Transport of the russian federation Zakhary Dzhioev. Since September 2022, russian officials have allowed the use of the capacities of the Berdiansk seaport for the transportation of military equipment and personnel of the russian military formations, organized and provided conditions for the timely transportation by sea of personnel of the armed forces and other armed formations of the russian federation, military equipment, weapons to the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine, thereby providing means and removing obstacles for the top military and political leadership of the russian federation to wage an aggressive war against Ukraine.

The tug has been implicated in grain theft schemes involving shipments from the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine.
In December 2023, the tug, operating with the barge Samarskaya-3, removed Ukrainian grain from the temporarily occupied port of Berdyansk, Zaporizhzhia Region, Ukraine. The barge Samarskaya-3 belongs to the fleet of Petrotanker LLC (ООО "Петротанкер", TIN/INN 7840463656), a russian company that specializes in the carriage of general, project, grain, and bulk cargoes via the inland waterways of the russian federation, the waters of the Northern Sea Route, and international sea routes in the Barents, North, Baltic, Mediterranean, Black, and Caspian Seas.
The vessel is affiliated with Rika-More Management Company LLC (ООО "Управляющая компания "Река-Море", TIN/INN 6164275559), a russian company designated by Ukraine. Rika-More Management Company provides vessel-agency services in the seaports of Rostov-on-Don and Azov; conducts complex, non-standard transport, loading, and unloading operations for cargoes of any dimensions; performs pilotage; and carries out towing of floating objects of varying complexity in support of the ministry of defense of the russian federation, security agencies, and enterprises of the aggressor’s military-industrial complex.

The tug was involved in towing a small Okhotnik-class corvette with artillery armament, the border-guard ship "Bezuprechny," toward Kerch in the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea (TOT of Crimea), Ukraine.
It is also likely that the tug, operating with the barge Samarskaya-1, has been implicated in grain theft schemes involving shipments from the temporarily occupied port of Berdyansk, Zaporizhzhia Region, Ukraine. The barge Samarskaya-1 belongs to the fleet of Petrotanker LLC (ООО "Петротанкер", TIN 7840463656), a russian company specializing in the carriage of general, project, grain, and bulk cargoes via the inland waterways of the russian federation, the waters of the Northern Sea Route, and international sea routes in the Barents, North, Baltic, Mediterranean, Black, and Caspian Seas. Petrotanker’s fleet also includes the designated vessel IMO 9900514.

The oceanographic research vessel is specialized in seismic surveys, onboard gravimetric surveys, magnetic surveys, geological sampling, and is equipped with a multibeam echo sounder for hydrographic surveys (detailed seabed topography – bathymetric research).
The vessel is engaged in unlawful oil and natural gas exploration in the Antarctic.
In January 2023, it docked in South Africa en route to Antarctica, provoking criticism from local activists over potential support to moscow in conducting mineral exploration in the Antarctic and violating the international ban on such activities.
The global environmental movement Extinction Rebellion has linked the vessel’s activities to future mineral extraction in the region.
On 23 February 2024, the United States imposed sanctions on the vessel for large-scale oil and gas exploration in the Southern Ocean of Antarctica – a marine desert under threat from greenhouse gas emissions and extreme weather events. Much of this exploration has been conducted via Cape Town since the entry into force of the international moratorium on mining in 1998.
The vessel is owned by the sanctioned russian company Polar Marine Geosurvey Expedition JSC (АО "Полярная морская геологоразведочная экспедиция"), a subsidiary of Rosgeologia JSC (АО "Росгеология"), the russian state-owned diversified geological holding.

The crane and pipe-laying vessel combines the functions of a crane ship and a pipelayer.
It was part of the fleet completing the Nord Stream 2 export gas pipeline.
Since 2022, the vessel has been engaged in works on the gas pipeline from the Yuzhno-Kirinskoye gas condensate field to the Kirinskoye gas condensate field (operated by PJSC Gazprom (ПАО "Газпром")).
Since 27 June 2024, it has been laying a pipeline connecting the Kirinskoye and South Kirinskoye gas condensate fields.
In May 2021, the United States imposed sanctions on vessels involved in the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, including the Akademik Cherskiy.