The Security Service of Ukraine and the Office of the Prosecutor General have collected evidence against the master of a cargo ship who transported over 54,000 tonnes of grain out of Ukraine at the start of the full-scale invasion. This grain was illegally stolen by russian invaders from temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories.

The suspect is the russian captain of the cargo ship MATROS POZYNICH. Between 2022 and 2023, he twice transported wheat, illegally seized by the ruscists from Ukrainian farmers, from the temporarily occupied city of Sevastopol to the port of Latakia in Syria.

The investigation revealed that the first consignment, comprising over 27,000 tonnes of grain, departed from Crimea in 2022. The vessel transported a further 27,000 tonnes in January 2023. In total, this amounts to over 54,000 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat.

According to the investigation, the illicit transportation took place following a decision by the senior political leadership of the aggressor state. Such actions violate the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit the plundering of property in occupied territories.

SSU investigators have notified the captain in absentia of his status as a suspect under two Articles of the CCU:

• 332-1.3 (violation of the procedure for entering and leaving the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine with the intention of harming the state’s interests, committed by an organised group);
• 438.1 (violation of the laws and customs of war).

Efforts are ongoing to bring the suspect to justice and identify other participants in the scheme.

The investigation is carried out by the SSU Main Investigation Directorate under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor General’s Office.