Seizure of Ukrainian vessels in Spain: what is known and what does russia have to do with it
16.02.2023 - 12:00
Two Ukrainian vessels worth $10.2 million were arrested in Spain. The trawlers tried to hand over to the russian state corporation allegedly for debts.
Two Ukrainian fishing trawlers were arrested in the Spanish port of Las Palmas, the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine reports.
The investigation established that officials of state-owned enterprises in the water transport industry, in collusion with citizens of russian federation, planned to transfer the vessels to the russian state development corporation “VEB of russian federation” allegedly for the debts of Ukraine. Namely, as the payment of a fictitious debt due to the seizure by Ukraine of the russian assets of the corporation’s “daughter” — Prominvestbank.
“This criminal group leased two Ukrainian fishing vessels to a russian company. Officials of state-owned enterprises hired a crew of citizens of russian federation and drove the ships to the port of Las Palmas,” the Prosecutor General’s Office said.
The officials transferred the funds received for renting vessels to the bank accounts of controlled legal companies and bar associations for the provision of fictitious services and subsequently processed them.
Currently, together with the law enforcement agencies of the Kingdom of Spain, measures are being taken to prevent russian federation from taking possession of these vessels.
