Swedish authorities have lifted the arrest of the Russian captain of the bulk carrier Caffa, which has been linked to the illegal export of Ukrainian grain from occupied territories. Despite this decision, the vessel remains banned from operating.
The Caffa was detained by the Swedish Coast Guard in the Baltic Sea near Trelleborg. The captain had been in custody since March 10, facing allegations of using forged documents under serious circumstances.
Prosecutor Adrien Combié-Hogga indicated that the fraudulent documents suggested the ship was registered under the flag of Guinea. However, investigators were unable to establish whether the captain was aware of this deception despite extensive inquiries.
The vessel has been prohibited from sailing due to safety deficiencies, with authorities currently working to address these issues. An investigation into the ship’s activities is still ongoing.
According to the Ukrainian Military Intelligence, the Caffa has been implicated in the theft of grain from temporarily occupied regions, notably in July 2025 from the port of Sevastopol. The ship was reportedly unloaded at the Syrian port of Tartus. On November 25, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions against the vessel.
Russia’s Shadow Fleet and International Sanctions
In response to international sanctions stemming from its aggression against Ukraine, Russia has developed a shadow fleet—a network of oil tankers designed to circumvent these restrictions. This fleet enables the Kremlin to continue exporting oil, particularly to China and India, despite bans on Russian oil imports to the EU.
Ukrainian Military Intelligence reports that this shadow fleet consists of over a thousand tankers, including 238 actively involved in evading sanctions. These vessels frequently change flags, disable tracking systems, and operate without proper insurance, complicating their detection and identification.
The international community is actively addressing this issue. The European Union has repeatedly expanded its sanctions lists, adding vessels associated with the shadow fleet. For instance, the 15th EU sanctions package included several dozen ships involved in the illegal transport of Russian oil.
Additionally, Australia has introduced sanctions against 60 vessels from the shadow fleet for the first time, while Canada has announced sanctions against over 200 ships used to bypass these restrictions.
On March 13, the Swedish Coast Guard and police boarded the tanker Sea Owl I in the Baltic Sea near Trelleborg. This vessel is under EU sanctions and is suspected of sailing under a false flag and committing serious safety violations. The Russian commander of Sea Owl I was taken into custody, facing similar allegations of using forged documents under serious circumstances.
Swedish prosecutors have lifted the arrest of the Russian captain of the Caffa, a vessel linked to Ukrainian grain theft, while investigations continue. The ship remains banned from operation due to safety issues, and broader concerns over Russia's shadow fleet persist amid international sanctions.