Theft of grain: another Russian was informed of suspicion
25.04.2024 - 11:14
The captain of a Russian bulk carrier is suspected of illegally exporting stolen Ukrainian grain from Crimea.
According to the investigation, in December 2023 and February 2024, a citizen of the Russian Federation, driving the bulk carrier “Zayd”, carried out illegal activities in the port of Sevastopol. This was reported in the press service of the Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Crimea.
The actions of the suspect were classified as violations of the procedure for entering and leaving the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine, committed repeatedly (Part 2 of Article 332-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The man faces up to 5 years in prison.
The Russian also accepted cargoes of stolen Ukrainian wheat on the ship. Subsequently, the bulk carrier was heading in the direction of the Syrian seaport.
In order to hide his illegal activities, the captain periodically turned off the AIS and entered into it fictitious information about the course of the vessel allegedly to the ports of Egypt and the Russian Federation.
In total, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, 17 Russian captains and 1 vessel owner involved in the export of grain from the Ukrainian Free Trade Area through the closed Crimean ports have been notified of suspicions.
Earlier, the captains of the Russian vessels “Mikhail Nenashev” and “Zafar” were reported for the theft of Ukrainian grain.
