HUR: 18 of 26 Russian oil and stolen-grain ships face no sanctions

On August 14, Ukraine's Military Intelligence (HUR) released data listing 26 ships carrying Russian oil, liquefied natural gas, or agricultural products from occupied Ukraine. Of these, 18 ships face no sanctions from any partner countries of Ukraine. These vessels transport goods from the occupied ports of Berdiansk, Sevastopol, Kerch, and Feodosia.

HUR divided the ships into three groups: oil tankers for specific Russian oil companies, dry-cargo ships using occupied Ukrainian ports, and LNG carriers moving gas from a sanctioned floating storage unit.

Three vessels among the 18 not facing sanctions include the bulk carrier LAMAR S, which loaded wheat at an occupied Sevastopol terminal in 2026 for international delivery, the NAYA FALCON carrying goods from Sevastopol to Egypt and Cyprus, and the oil tanker GREGAL, linked to a UAE-based shipping company affiliated with Russia's state-controlled shipping company. The source could not independently verify HUR's vessel records.

Russia depends on maritime trade for war funding and to sell crops from occupied Ukraine. Ukraine initiated a dedicated system against Russia's shadow grain fleet in April, mirroring its oil-fleet campaign. A US bill introduced this week would target vessels, owners, insurers, and ports involved in sanctions evasion. HUR's list shows how many ships remain outside these restrictions.

Ship-to-ship transfers at Kavkaz have been used to conceal the origin of stolen grain. Russian attacks on civilian ships have brought the Black Sea corridor to a near standstill during the July harvest peak, with ten people killed when Russian missiles hit the grain-laden Golden Leo on July 19. HUR urged Ukraine and its partners to synchronize sanctions and detain vessels violating restrictions, aiming to curb Russia's maritime logistics and war funding.