Ukraine has charged a Russian captain for controlling a tanker that was transporting stolen grain from Crimea. This charge has been made in absentia and is considered the first time in Ukraine's history that a captain has been accused of war crimes for actions related to grain export.
Details of the Charge and Legal Background
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Office of the Prosecutor General of the country announced that a case has been opened against this captain. According to reports, the tanker named "Matros Pozynich" (IMO 9573816), built in 2010, has transported over 54,000 tons of grain stolen from Ukrainian farmers. This grain was transferred in two batches of 27,000 and 27,300 tons in November 2022 and January 2023 from Crimea to Latakia in Syria.
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Investigations show that the captain periodically turned off the AIS (Automatic Identification System) during the grain transport and provided false information about the tanker’s location. According to SBU statements, these actions are considered violations of the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit the theft of property in occupied territories.
Economic and Legal Consequences
Investigations are ongoing, and authorities are seeking to identify other accomplices of this captain. In a separate incident, two individuals in Odessa were arrested for assisting Russia in transporting stolen grain through the port of Mariupol. These two have been charged with aiding in concealing the source of stolen agricultural products worth over $1.3 million.
Reports indicate that in 2024, traffickers loaded 7,857 tons of Ukrainian wheat onto the sanctioned tanker "Alpha M." This cargo was then transferred to the port of Temryuk in the Krasnodar territory, where fake documents were issued indicating that the grain had come from Russia. The agricultural products were then transferred to the Middle East for further sale.
During searches of the homes and offices of the accused, computer equipment, mobile phones, and forged documents indicating criminal activity were discovered. The two individuals are currently in custody and face a maximum penalty of 12 years in prison and asset confiscation.
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