Ship carrying Ukrainian grain from Crimea sold for 7 million

Almost UAH 7 million was transferred to the state budget thanks to the joint work of the Crimean Prosecutor's Office, the Crimean SBU and the ARMA. A vessel illegally exporting agricultural products from Sevastopol was sold.

This was reported by the press service of the Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol.

The National Agency of Ukraine for finding, tracing and management of assets derived from corruption and other crimes (ARMA) has sold the USKO MFU, which was seized at the request of the Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol, through Prozorro.Sale.

The bulk carrier was sold through an auction. As a result of the auction, the new owner has secured UAH 6.9 million to the State Budget of Ukraine. Thus, the foreign vessel that helped the enemy brought real money to the state.

The said foreign vessel was detained in July 2024 in the waters of the port of Reni, Odesa region, and at the request of prosecutors was transferred to the ARMA for further sale.

According to the investigation, the USKO MFU vessel, flying the flag of Cameroon, illegally entered the closed port of Sevastopol and exported agricultural products through the occupied peninsula.

It is worth noting that earlier, thanks to the coordinated actions of the Prosecutor's Office and the Security Service of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, USKO MFU, as an offending vessel, was sanctioned by the decision of the National Security and Defense Council, enacted by the Decree of the President of Ukraine dated 25.11.2025.

Earlier, Intent reported that the auction for the sale of USKO MFU was scheduled for November 25 with a starting price of UAH 2 million 958.9 thousand. Given the vessel's prolonged lay-up, its technical condition has deteriorated, and experts have reason to believe that the mechanisms have been defrosted due to the onset of negative temperatures.

The previous auction, which was scheduled to take place on November 4, did not take place due to the lack of bidders. The starting price was UAH 4 million 958.9 thousand.

The USKO MFUbulk carrier flying the flag of Cameroon was impounded in October 2024. The detention took place in the waters of the port of Reni in July 2024 in the Odesa region, when the Maritime Security units detected violations of navigation in the waters under temporary occupation. The captain of the ship was accused of violating the procedure for entering the occupied territories with the aim of harming the state interests.

Володимир Шкаєв