A Kherson resident was convicted of helping Russia purchase ships in the EU in circumvention of sanctions

A court handed down a sentence to a Kherson native who helped Russian business representatives purchase ships in the European Union in circumvention of sanctions. The man was found guilty of aiding an aggressor state.

According to the verdict, the defendant entered into a plea agreement with the prosecutor and admitted his guilt.

According to the case file, the man worked as the chief operating officer of the international group of companies “Ryan Ship Management.” He agreed to assist the Russian group of companies “Alliance,” which is engaged in maritime transportation and towing.

His tasks included inspecting the technical condition of the vessels, auditing documents, organizing repairs, providing crews, and performing other actions necessary for the acquisition and subsequent transportation of the vessels.

One such vessel was the tugboat “MIRJANA K.” Its purchase was arranged through the Turkish company “Boyut Endustriyel” to conceal the true Russian buyer. After the deal was finalized, the vessel effectively passed into the ownership of the Russian company “Northern Alliance.”

From late August through October 2022, the man from Kherson was in Greece, where he inspected the tugboat’s technical condition and its documentation. The funds for the purchase, repair, and transportation of the vessel came from Russia. The vessel was later renamed “Ajax” and registered under the Russian flag.

According to court documents, the man later helped acquire another tugboat—the “Isac”—which belonged to a Finnish company. To conceal the Russian involvement in the deal, the company “Optivix SARLU,” controlled by a French citizen, was used for the purchase.

After the deal was finalized, the defendant worked on staffing the tugboat’s crew. In August 2024, the vessel disappeared from monitoring systems, and in October it was re-registered under the Russian flag and given a new name—“Regul.” In February 2025, the Russian company “Northern Alliance” became the vessel’s owner and commercial manager.

The court approved a plea agreement and sentenced the man to five years in prison but suspended his sentence for a two-year probationary period. He was also barred for 10 years from engaging in activities related to the purchase and sale of vessels.

In addition, the defendant agreed to donate 500,000 hryvnias to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The court also took into account his sincere remorse and his cooperation in solving the crime.

Until the verdict becomes final, his pretrial detention was replaced with a personal recognizance, and he was released from custody in the courtroom.

Ірина Глухова