Ukraine intercepts a Russian 'shadow fleet' ship carrying stolen wheat

Ukraine has detained a foreign merchant vessel which, according to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), belongs to the so-called Russian "shadow fleet". It was being used to export 5,000 tonnes of wheat from the port of Sevastopol on the Russian-annexed Crimean peninsula at the end of 2024, the SBU said.

The ship, flying the flag of an Asian country, has now reportedly been detained in Ukrainian territorial waters in the Black Sea. No information on the whereabouts of the crew and possible legal implications was provided.

Russia has occupied one fifth of the territory of the Ukrainian state, including Crimea. Kyiv considers trade with these territories illegal. Ukraine has a history of intercepting ships that have entered ports in occupied territories without Ukrainian permission.