Ukraine has imposed sanctions on 56 maritime vessels accused of illegally entering ports under Russian occupation and exporting Ukrainian agricultural products between 2022 and 2025.

The measures were approved after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree enacting a decision of the National Security and Defence Council (NSDC), according to the official website of the President of Ukraine.

The Presidency reported that the sanctioned ships had loaded thousands of tonnes of Ukrainian wheat, sunflower seeds and other food products in the closed ports of Sevastopol and Feodosia, both of which are temporarily occupied by Russia.

Officials also said that several of these vessels were already under restrictions imposed by the European Union, the United States and Switzerland.

According to the President’s Office, the vessels did not operate solely under the Russian flag. Seventeen ships sailed under the flags of other countries, and Ukraine plans to work with the relevant states to secure the termination of licences issued to these vessels.

Authorities added that individuals involved in these logistics operations, classified as illegal by Ukraine, had received financial gains and paid taxes into the Russian state budget, a contribution that, according to officials, supported Russia’s ability to continue its war against Ukraine.

The sanctions, introduced through Presidential Decree No. 860/2025, will apply for 10 years. The measures include the blocking of assets, restrictions on trade operations, limitations on the transit of resources, and the suspension of economic and financial obligations linked to the sanctioned vessels.

The President’s Office said Ukraine would continue increasing pressure on Russia “in every possible domain” and would coordinate decisions with international partners to compel Russia to halt its aggression.

Alongside the vessel sanctions, Presidential Decree No. 67/2025 imposed restrictions on 56 Russian citizens and one Iranian national identified as captains of vessels operating within Russia’s shadow fleet.

Analysts monitoring maritime activity have identified 940 vessels operating within Russia’s shadow fleet since the start of the year, representing a 45% increase compared to the previous year.

Per reports, approximately one in six tankers worldwide, or about 17% of the global tanker fleet, now belongs to this network.

Most of these ships are described as older tankers sailing under the flags of neutral countries. Analysts have warned that, in addition to the environmental and sanctions-evasion risks, some of these vessels could also be used as potential platforms for hybrid threats against Europe.

References: Newsukraine, ukrinform