The Security Service of Ukraine has collected evidence against the master of a foreign vessel belonging to russia’s shadow fleet, which was detained in Odesa in December 2025. At that time, he was attempting to transport a shipment of steel pipes from the port city under the flag of an African country.

The Service has established that in late 2024, the suspect entered the seaport in the temporarily occupied city of Kerch aboard the sanctioned tanker.

According to the investigation, 2,000 tons of liquefied petroleum gas were loaded onto the vessel there, intended for export to third countries.

Prior to this, in January 2021, the dry cargo ship illegally transported nearly 7,000 tons of grain from Crimea to North Africa.

To circumvent sanctions during the transport of goods, the master constantly changed the flags under which he sailed the vessel and also turned off the Automatic Identification System.

The master of the russian shadow tanker is a citizen of one of the Middle Eastern countries. At the time of the vessel’s detention in Odesa, there were 16 other crew members on board – all citizens of the Middle East.

During searches of the ship, voyage plans, pilot cards, cartographic materials, and radio communication logs were found, containing evidence of illegal entry into the ports of the temporarily occupied Crimea.

SSU investigators have notified the detained perpetrator of suspicion under Article 332-1.2 of the CCU (violation of the procedure for entering and exiting the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine).

The suspect faces up to 5 years in prison.

The investigation was carried out by the SSU Office in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor’s Office.