Russia’s Smuggled Grain Finds New Market in Saudi Arabia

A joint investigation by Bellingcat and Lloyd’s Record has recognized Saudi Arabia as the latest nation to import grain instantly from a Western-sanctioned port in occupied Crimea, as Russia makes an attempt to safe recognition of the Ukrainian territory through a US-led peace plan.

Satellite tv for pc imagery and Automated Identification System (AIS) knowledge from Lloyd’s Record Intelligence exhibits the majority service Krasnodar (IMO: 9296781) sailed from Avlita Grain Terminal in Sevastopol to Saudi Arabia on two events between September and November 2025. Bellingcat confirmed Krasnodar’s journeys ended at Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Port in September and the Port of Jazan in November.

These journeys present that Saudi Arabia has joined patrons in Iran, Syria, Egypt, Turkey, Venezuela and Houthi-controlled territories in Yemen who’re prepared to simply accept what the Ukrainian authorities describes as “stolen” grain. 

After leaving Jazan, Krasnodar returned to the Black Sea through the Bosphorus on November 23.

It stopped transmitting AIS for a 3rd time on November 24 for 9 days and has been intermittently transmitting knowledge since.

Krasnodar was once more captured in satellite tv for pc imagery docked on the Avlita terminal in Sevastopol on November 26. 

Petrokhleb-Kuban Denies Visiting Avlita Terminal

Paperwork accessed on Russia’s federal registry point out the vessel is leased by Russian agency Petrokhleb-Kuban, a significant participant in Russian and worldwide grain markets. 

Petrokhleb Kuban instructed Bellingcat it “categorically denies any allegations of involvement within the theft of grain from Ukrainian areas”.

It added that Petrokhleb-Kuban doesn’t export grain from the Avlita terminal to any nation.

“Petrokhleb-Kuban doesn’t function on the port of Avlita and doesn’t ship grain from there. All grain shipped by Petrokhleb-Kuban is produced by Russian farmers,” a spokesperson mentioned. 

“The vessel Krasnodar follows all broadly accepted security protocols and doesn’t disable its AIS whereas on passage. The AIS sign within the Black Sea is being jammed by the army because of the ongoing battle between Russia and Ukraine.”

The spokesperson additionally mentioned the vessel Krasnodar was loading barley on the port of Kavkaz, “as confirmed by payments of lading and port clearance.”

AIS interference is rampant within the Black Sea, nonetheless, cases of jamming usually don’t final greater than a few days. Additional, third-party disruptions impression all vessels in a single space indiscriminately. 

Bellingcat reviewed the AIS traces of vessels crusing close to Krasnodar. In each voyages, Krasnodar was the one vessel in that space that stopped transmitting AIS knowledge for that time period.  

Bellingcat additionally checked accessible Planet Labs PBC and Sentinel-2 satellite tv for pc imagery masking the grain terminal in Port Kavkaz in the course of the two durations of August and October the place Krasnodar has absent or unreliable AIS protection and located no vessels matching the size of the Krasnodar.

Bellingcat recognized Krasnodar in Avlita terminal on three events, by cross referencing satellite tv for pc photos of Krasnodar and up to date photos and video of the ship. Krasnodar was final detected at Avlita terminal in satellite tv for pc imagery on November 26, once more with its AIS switched off.  Krasnodar’s chimney is navy blue in color, aside from a white band on the left, proper, and entrance aspect of the chimney. The ship’s different options – 5 gray hatches, 4 gray cranes, a purple deck, a inexperienced ground on the bridge, all visually match identified photos of the ship.

Lastly, the ship’s measurements (a complete size of 183 metre in response to Russia’s transport registry) matches what we see in satellite tv for pc photos.

There aren’t any stay or historic sanctions on Krasnodar, in response to Lloyd’s Record Intelligence knowledge.

Saudi Arabia Joins Record of Importers of Russia’s Smuggled Grain

Krasnodar’s voyages from Sevastopol to Saudi Arabia exhibit that Russia is constant to increase its grain exports from occupied Crimea to new markets because it negotiates to finish the conflict in Ukraine.

Crimea’s occupied ports have turn into vital belongings for Moscow, having developed into key logistics hubs for darkish grain exports over the course of the conflict.

Previous to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the ports in occupied Crimea had been used for the small-scale export of grain and scrap steel, largely to Syria and Turkey.

The occupation of further territory in Donetsk and Zaporizhia enabled Russia to ascertain a brand new provide route, leading to extra grain being shipped south to Crimea for export to worldwide markets.

The Port of Sevastopol and the Avlita grain terminal stay below European, UK and US sanctions. Whereas no UN sanctions particularly goal the port, a majority of UN member states have handed resolutions condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its occupation of Crimea since 2024. 

Ukraine has repeatedly tried to dissuade international locations from buying shipments loaded with what it describes as “stolen” grain from occupied areas.

In 2023, Iran obtained its first grain shipments from Sevastopol. In 2024, it was joined by Venezuela, Libya, Egypt and the Houthis, which management territory in Yemen. Final month, Bellingcat revealed that the majority service Irtysh (IMO: 9664976) delivered grain from the Crimean port of Sevastopol to the Houthi-controlled port of Saleef in Yemen regardless of Western Sanctions. 

Bellingcat and different information shops have recognized a complete of eight international locations which have imported grain instantly from occupied Crimea.

Whereas Saudi Arabia is the most recent direct importer from Sevastopol, it’s unclear if authorities are conscious of the origin of the cargo. 

The grain shipments observe the same sample to Russia’s shadow fleet, which strikes sanctioned oil barrels. In each instances steps are taken to disguise the origin of the cargo and port of loading.

Most ships calling to Crimea disable their AIS transponders, which is taken into account a misleading transport observe, and fraudulent paperwork are issued. 

Alona Shkrum, First Deputy Minister for Improvement of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, instructed Bellingcat that Ukraine was carefully monitoring Russian exports from occupied territories. She mentioned Ukraine had mentioned the difficulty with Saudi Arabia on the sidelines of latest talks on the Worldwide Maritime Organisation Meeting.

She instructed Bellingcat that Ukraine had “obtained assurances that Saudi authorities are actively counteracting the dangers posed by shadow fleet operations and different violations of worldwide maritime regulation.” 

She added that Ukraine would proceed to work with companions to establish and sanction vessels concerned within the unlawful export of grain from occupied territories. 

Bellingcat contacted each the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Overseas Affairs and the Russian Ministry of Overseas Affairs; neither responded to requests for remark. 

US-Russia Peace Plan and Possession of Ukraine’s Ports

The US-Russia 28-point peace proposal consists of the popularity of Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk as “de facto” Russian. Possession of Crimea and the occupied territories bordering the Sea of Azov is crucial for securing transport routes to and from Russia, and these ports play an important position in supporting financial progress within the area. 

Nevertheless, the impression of ceding management of this area and the port of Sevastopol to Russia is just not talked about in both the unique US draft plan or subsequent amended variations.

Ian Ralby, chief govt of the maritime and useful resource safety consultancy I.R. Consilium mentioned whereas it was a excessive precedence for Ukraine to make sure entry to the grain market by way of the Black Sea is preserved, Russia is constant to attempt to increase its world entry to ports. 

“We see that there’s a resurgence in Russia’s efforts on port entry.”

“Because the prospect of potential peace begins to loom, although it appears to be a lot farther off than many would need, there’s prone to be a renewed concentrate on the important thing strategic belongings that matter for the longer term, and the ports must be foremost amongst them.” 

Bridget Diakun, Yörük Işık, Youri van der Weide, Peter Barth and Galen Reich contributed to this report.

Cowl picture: Planet Lab picture exhibits Krasnodar docked at Jazan Metropolis, Saudi Arabia on November 6. Credit: Planet Labs PBC.

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