Ukraine Sanctions 56 Maritime Vessels

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine has officially enacted sanctions against 56 maritime vessels implicated in unlawfully entering and operating out of Ukrainian ports currently under Russian control. The decree, based on a decision by the National Security and Defense Council, aims to penalize vessels that have been involved in exporting stolen Ukrainian food products between 2022 and 2025.

The sanctioned vessels, which include both Russian and foreign-flagged ships, have been instrumental in transporting significant quantities of Ukrainian wheat, sunflower seeds, and other agricultural goods from the occupied ports of Sevastopol and Feodosia. These ports have been temporarily seized by Russian forces. The sanctions also extend to some vessels that are already under restrictive measures imposed by other nations such as the European Union, the United States, and Switzerland.

In his announcement, President Zelenskyy emphasized that the actions taken by these vessels not only violated national and international laws but also financially benefitted individuals involved with the logistics, who have contributed to funding Russia’s military efforts against Ukraine. The Ukrainian government is coordinating closely with international partners and the respective countries of the flagged vessels to halt further licensing and increase pressure on Russia to cease its aggressive actions towards Ukraine.