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Norway has detained the heavy lift carrier 'Ya Qing Hai Yang' (IMO: 1021570), which was linked to Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 project, Novatek’s liquefied natural gas project on the Gydan Peninsula in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District, on Oct 14. In Oct 2024, the vessel helped transport power-generation modules from China to Russia’s Utrenny port, which serves the project. The ship was later placed under sanctions over that activity. On Oct 8, the ship was spotted several kilometers away from the Norwegian border, after having departed from Hong Kong, making several stops in the Russian Far East before sailing along the Northern Sea Route — the shipping corridor connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans via Russia’s Arctic coast. Because Guatemala does not maintain a public ship registry, the flag registration was regarded as potentially false. The 'Jian Yang Cheng He' was also stopped, though it was not under sanctions, and no connection to Russian projects was known. It had also left Hong Kong in mid-July and sailed along the Northern Sea Route. Both ships had sought shelter from a storm near Andøya island, where the Norwegian Coast Guard personnel inspected them.

Ukraine’s Security Service and Prosecutor General’s Office were proceeding with the case against the Russian captain of the cargo m/v 'Matros Pozynich' (IMO: 9573816), Mykola Telagin, 54, who has been accused of controlling the ship transporting stolen grain from Crimea. According to the investigation, the grain export was carried out by the decision of the top political leadership of the aggressor country. Such actions violate the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit the theft of property in occupied territories,” said the SBU. The investigation confirmed that the vessel, which was sold in 2022 to Russian interests, with its flag moved from the Marshall Islands to Russia, had transported more than 54,000 tons of grain that they assert was taken from Ukrainian farmers. One shipment of over 27,000 tons was transported in November 2022, and the second load consisting of 27,300 tons was transported in January 2023. Both shipments were taken out of Crimea and delivered to Latakia. The investigation indicated that the captain periodically turned off the AIS and transmitted inaccurate information about the vessel’s location. They asserted the wheat was presented as if it had come from Russia. Investigators of the Security Service informed the captain in absentia of the charges on suspicion of a violation of the laws and customs of war and violation of the procedure for entering and leaving the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine with the aim of causing harm to the interests of the state, committed by an organised group. It was the first time Ukraine has charged a captain with a war crime for his role in the export of grain. Investigators continued to dig into the case were are looking for further accomplices. In a separate development, they also reported on Oct 19 that two pesons were arrested in Odesa on charges of aiding Russia to transport stolen grain through the Port of Mariupol for sale to third countries. They had helped Russia hide the origin of stolen agricultural products worth over $1.3 million. The report alleged that in 2024, the smugglers loaded 7,857 tons of Ukrainian wheat onto the sanctioned 'Alpha M', now sailing as 'Irkutsk', in the port of Mariupol. From there, the stolen cargo was transported to Temryuk, Krasnodar Territory, where fictitious documents were issued stating that the grain was of Russian origin. After that, the agricultural products were delivered to the Middle East for further sale through a local exporting company. During searches of their homes and the company's office, computer equipment, mobile phones, documentation, and forged laboratory reports containing evidence of crimes were reportedly discovered. The two men were placed in detention and faced up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property. Several similar cases have been filed, and Ukraine has seized a few smaller cargo ships on charges of entering the closed ports of occupied Crimea or transporting grain and other materials out of the region.

Norway has detained the 'Ya Qing Hai Yang', which was linked to Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 project, Novatek’s liquefied natural gas project on the Gydan Peninsula in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District, on Oct 14. In Oct 2024, the vessel helped transport power-generation modules from China to Russia’s Utrenny port, which serves the project. The ship was later placed under sanctions over that activity. On Oct 8, the ship was spotted several kilometers away from the Norwegian border, after having departed from Hong Kong, making several stops in the Russian Far East before sailing along the Northern Sea Route — the shipping corridor connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans via Russia’s Arctic coast. Because Guatemala does not maintain a public ship registry, the flag registration was regarded as potentially false. Another cargo vessel, the 'Jian Yang Cheng He' (IMO: 9813137) was also stopped, though it was not under sanctions, and no connection to Russian projects was known. It had also left Hong Kong in mid-July and sailed along the Northern Sea Route. Both ships had sought shelter from a storm near Andøya island, where the Norwegian Coast Guard personnel inspected them.

Ukraine’s Security Service and Prosecutor General’s Office were proceeding with the case against the Russian captain of the 'Matros Pozynich', Mykola Telagin, 54, who has been accused of controlling the ship transporting stolen grain from Crimea. According to the investigation, the grain export was carried out by the decision of the top political leadership of the aggressor country. Such actions violate the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit the theft of property in occupied territories,” said the SBU. The investigation confirmed that the vessel, which was sold in 2022 to Russian interests, with its flag moved from the Marshall Islands to Russia, had transported more than 54,000 tons of grain that they assert was taken from Ukrainian farmers. One shipment of over 27,000 tons was transported in November 2022, and the second load consisting of 27,300 tons was transported in January 2023. Both shipments were taken out of Crimea and delivered to Latakia. The investigation indicated that the captain periodically turned off the AIS and transmitted inaccurate information about the vessel’s location. They asserted the wheat was presented as if it had come from Russia. Investigators of the Security Service informed the captain in absentia of the charges on suspicion of a violation of the laws and customs of war and violation of the procedure for entering and leaving the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine with the aim of causing harm to the interests of the state, committed by an organised group. It was the first time Ukraine has charged a captain with a war crime for his role in the export of grain. Investigators continued to dig into the case were are looking for further accomplices. In a separate development, they also reported on Oct 19 that two pesons were arrested in Odesa on charges of aiding Russia to transport stolen grain through the Port of Mariupol for sale to third countries. They had helped Russia hide the origin of stolen agricultural products worth over $1.3 million. The report alleged that in 2024, the smugglers loaded 7,857 tons of Ukrainian wheat onto the sanctioned m/v 'Alpha M' (IMO: 9419084 ), now sailing as 'Irkutsk', in the port of Mariupol. From there, the stolen cargo was transported to Temryuk, Krasnodar Territory, where fictitious documents were issued stating that the grain was of Russian origin. After that, the agricultural products were delivered to the Middle East for further sale through a local exporting company. During searches of their homes and the company's office, computer equipment, mobile phones, documentation, and forged laboratory reports containing evidence of crimes were reportedly discovered. The two men were placed in detention and faced up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property. Several similar cases have been filed, and Ukraine has seized a few smaller cargo ships on charges of entering the closed ports of occupied Crimea or transporting grain and other materials out of the region.

While Ukrainian forces launched a major attack on St. Petersburg over the weekend of Oct 17/18, 2026, using hundreds of drones, the 'Vellamo' escaped en route from Ust-Luga near St. Petersburg to Singapore with approximately 100,000 tons of crude oil and an ETA as of Nov 12, and was spotted in the Great Belt off Fehmarn on Oct 17, with nets were stretched over the monkey island with the radio antennas, the funnel, and along the sides of the bridge, being on the top of the Ukrainians' list of potential targets. The tanker, part of the Russian shadow fleet, is on the sanctions lists of the EU, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. The vessel was involved in the transport of oil from Russia and Iran and has already circumvented numerous sanctions. To get the cargo delivered, the vessel was also making a wide detour around EU member states. After leaving the Skagerrak, the captain therefore chose a route through the North Atlantic and set course for Greenland, instead of the English Channel in order to avoid the risk of intervention by the authorities of EU member states in the English Channel. Report with photos: https://www.kn-online.de/schleswig-holstein/russland-tanker-der-schattenflotte-mit-drohnen-schutz-auf-der-ostsee-YKEHNS2LYVHX7MYUAHYOT5RN4U.html