Ukraine Seizes Russian Ship Smuggling Stolen Grain from Crimea

Ukrainian authorities have seized a foreign cargo vessel accused of transporting stolen grain from Crimea, in a joint operation carried out by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) and the State Border Guard Service (SBGS).

The ship was intercepted in the internal waters of the Black Sea, Ukraine announced.

Investigators confirmed that the ship had loaded around 5,000 tons of wheat from the port of Sevastopol at the end of 2024.

Sevastopol is located in Crimea, which Ukraine continues to regard as a temporarily occupied part of its southern territory.

To hide the grain’s true origin, the vessel operated under the flag of one of the Asian countries-a tactic authorities say is commonly used by Russia’s “shadow fleet”.

During the search operation, Ukrainian forces found documents, navigational equipment, and other physical evidence linking the ship and its crew to the illegal transportation of Ukrainian agricultural products.

The vessel was immediately arrested, and its crew was detained for further legal procedures. A pre-trial investigation into the incident is ongoing.

The SBU stated that the seized ship was involved in helping Russian forces loot and sell Ukrainian grain to third countries.

The operation was conducted by officers from the SBU units in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Odessa region, working together with the maritime protection units of the State Border Guard Service and the Naval Forces of Ukraine, under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor’s Office of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

Continued Efforts to Stop Illegal Export

Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of consistently stealing Ukrainian agricultural products since it occupied Crimea in 2014.

According to open media reports like Bellingcat and Lloyd’s List, Russia has been moving grain out of Crimea for years.

Ukrainian authorities have warned countries against buying stolen grain.

Earlier in 2024, Ukraine had detained another vessel on the Danube River, which had transported grain from Crimea both in 2023 and again in 2024.

After a court case, that ship was handed over to the Ukrainian state, and the captain along with an officer were arrested for prosecution.

Ukraine’s latest action comes as political tensions grow over the status of Crimea.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has reiterated that under Ukraine’s constitution, Crimea remains part of Ukraine and cannot be surrendered.

He has previously called Crimea a “red line” in any negotiations to end the war with Russia.

International Response

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said in an interview published by Time Magazine on April 25 that “Crimea will stay with Russia,” and suggested that Zelensky “understands that.”

Trump has criticised Ukraine, blaming it for prolonging the conflict and hindering peace talks, which he said he is keen to conclude.

Ukraine’s announcement about the seized vessel came just before a planned meeting between US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss efforts to move the peace negotiations forward.

At the same time, Ukraine’s National Resistance Centre recently reported that Russia is building a large agricultural market in occupied Mariupol, which officials believe is intended to support the export of stolen Ukrainian goods.

Ukraine has also found evidence that grain taken from occupied territories is being shipped to countries such as Iran.

The Ukrainian authorities stated that they will continue operations to stop the illegal export of Ukrainian resources from occupied territories.

References: newsukraine, pravda