Kyiv says it detained ship allegedly exporting stolen Ukrainian grain

​​​​​​​By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukraine said Friday that it detained a ship that it claimed exported grain stolen from its territories under Russian control late last year.

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) said on Telegram that the ship was detained following an operation with the State Border Guard Service.

“As the investigation established, the detained ship was part of the Russian ‘shadow’ fleet, which the Kremlin uses to sell looted Ukrainian grain to third countries,” it said.

Indicating that the ship was detained in Ukraine’s territorial waters in the Black Sea, the SBU said the vessel exported 5,000 tons of stolen grain at the end of 2024 from the port city of Sevastopol in the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014.

The grain exported originated from Russian-controlled territories in southern Ukraine, according to the SBU. The Security Service alleged that the ship carried out an illegal raid under the flag of an unspecified Asian country to cover up Russia’s involvement.

The SBU also claimed that a search of the ship uncovered evidence confirming Russia’s involvement.

It added that investigative actions are ongoing following the detention of the ship and its crew

Russia has not yet commented on the claims.