A Swedish court has determined that the seizure of the cargo ship CAFFA in the Baltic Sea was lawful, allowing for its transfer to Ukraine. The vessel is suspected of illegally transporting grain from territories in Ukraine that are currently occupied by Russia.
State prosecutor Håkan Larsson confirmed the court’s ruling, stating, “The court confirmed that the arrest of the CAFFA was legally justified, and the ship may be handed over to Ukraine.” He noted that the ship’s owners have a three-week period to appeal the decision.
The court found that the CAFFA had been used for the export of grain, an act that could be classified as a war crime. Most of the crew members aboard the ship were identified as Russian nationals, according to Swedish police records.
The CAFFA was seized on June 4, marking the first instance where a foreign court has approved the arrest of a vessel in response to a request for international legal assistance from Ukrainian prosecutors regarding the illegal export of Ukrainian goods from occupied territories.
According to Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate, the CAFFA was involved in the theft of grain from occupied areas, including an incident in July 2025 when it reportedly loaded grain at the port of Sevastopol. The bulk carrier was later unloaded at the Syrian port of Tartus. On November 25, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions against this vessel.
In March 2026, the Swedish Coast Guard detained the CAFFA in the Baltic Sea near Trelleborg. Authorities indicated that the ship had been sailing under a false flag. The captain was detained on March 10 on suspicion of using forged documents under aggravating circumstances.
On April 22, the Swedish prosecution lifted the arrest of the Russian captain of the bulk carrier; however, the ship remained prohibited from operating.
By the end of April, the Swedish prosecution announced its decision to confiscate the CAFFA, linking it to the illegal export of Ukrainian grain.
Russia’s Shadow Fleet and International Sanctions
In response to international sanctions imposed due to its aggression against Ukraine, Russia has established a shadow fleet—an extensive network of oil tankers designed to circumvent these restrictions. This fleet enables the Kremlin to continue exporting oil, particularly to China and India, despite the bans on Russian oil imports by the European Union.
According to Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate, the shadow fleet consists of over a thousand tankers, including 238 vessels actively engaged in evading sanctions. These tankers frequently change flags, disable tracking systems, and operate without proper insurance, complicating their detection and identification.
The international community has actively addressed this issue, with the European Union repeatedly expanding its sanctions lists to include vessels associated with the shadow fleet. For instance, in the 15th package of sanctions, the EU added several dozen ships involved in the illegal transportation of Russian oil.
Additionally, Australia has introduced sanctions against 60 vessels linked to the shadow fleet for the first time, while Canada has announced sanctions against over 200 ships used to bypass restrictions.
On March 13, in the Baltic Sea near Trelleborg, the Swedish Coast Guard and police boarded the tanker Sea Owl I, which is under EU sanctions. The vessel is suspected of sailing under a false flag and potential serious security violations. The Russian commander of the Sea Owl I was detained on suspicion of using forged documents under aggravating circumstances.
A Swedish court has ruled the seizure of the cargo ship CAFFA, suspected of grain smuggling, was lawful, allowing its transfer to Ukraine. The case highlights ongoing issues related to illegal exports from occupied territories and the broader context of Russia's shadow fleet circumventing international sanctions.