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Ukraine Names 51 Vessels Involved in Transporting Russian Oil and Stolen Ukrainian Grain
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) has published a list of 51 vessels that are involved in supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine, as part of an update to the War&Sanctions portal.
According to HUR on March 30, the ships are being used by Russia to generate revenue from oil exports and sustain its military operations. The list includes oil tankers transporting Russian crude and petroleum products, as well as cargo vessels operating in ports located in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories, including Mariupol and Kerch.
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HUR stated that Russia is systematically relying on maritime logistics not only to export energy resources, but also to remove Ukrainian assets from temporarily occupied territories.
“Russia systematically uses maritime logistics not only for the export of energy resources, but also for the export of stolen Ukrainian resources—grain, ore, coal,” the agency said.
The intelligence agency also noted that Moscow is attempting to integrate occupied territories into its economic system by reopening Ukrainian ports to foreign vessels. To facilitate these operations, Russia is using ships flying the flags of third countries, including those that officially support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“Russia uses schemes involving vessels flying the flags of third countries, including those that officially support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” HUR stated. “Captains remain a key link in this logistics chain—they have full information about the origin and nature of cargo, as well as routes.”
HUR called on the international community to take further action to prevent such activities. It urged countries that have affirmed support for Ukraine at the United Nations to ensure that vessels under their flags do not enter ports in occupied territories.
The agency also appealed to the International Maritime Organization to reinforce compliance with restrictions on access to closed Ukrainian ports. Additionally, HUR called on partner countries to introduce further sanctions against Russian and foreign individuals, companies, and vessels involved in what it described as unlawful commercial activity in temporarily occupied regions.
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The use of maritime routes to extract resources from temporarily occupied territories is not limited to raw materials, but also includes large-scale grain shipments.
According to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Russia took approximately 2 million metric tons of Ukrainian grain in 2025 and sold it across markets in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
Speaking at the Third Black Sea Security Conference of the International Crimea Platform on March 23, he described the activity as part of a broader effort to undermine Ukraine’s maritime economy and global food security.
Sybiha noted that a significant portion of the grain—around 40%—was exported to Egypt.
Earlier in March, a Russian-flagged bulk carrier, Victoria K, arrived at Egypt’s Port of Alexandria carrying wheat that Ukrainian investigators say was loaded in the occupied port of Mariupol.
According to Ukrainian Shipping Magazine, the vessel delivered the shipment on March 9 after departing from territory under Russian control.
Data from Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence-operated War&Sanctions portal indicates that the Victoria K has been repeatedly involved in transporting cargo from occupied Ukrainian ports. Between 2024 and 2025, the vessel is reported to have exported more than 20,000 tons of coking coal from Mariupol.
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