Ukrainian security forces have apprehended a cargo ship at the port of Odesa, identified by authorities as part of Russia’s alleged “shadow fleet,” according to a report from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on Wednesday.

The name of the vessel remains undisclosed, but it reportedly arrived under the flag of an African nation to load a shipment of steel pipes.

At the time of the arrest, the ship was operated by a captain and 16 crew members who held passports from unspecified countries in the Middle East.

As stated by the SBU, the ship illicitly transported nearly 7,000 tons of Russian grain from the annexed region of Crimea to North Africa in January 2021.

The vessel had made “at least seven” trips to Sevastopol for similar purposes just prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, as noted by the agency.

During the search operation, investigators discovered voyage plans, navigation charts, and other documentation that the SBU claims indicate the ship’s involvement in “illegal operations in ports located in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory.”

Ukraine has initiated a criminal investigation, with charges that include financing activities aimed at the illegal seizure of state power or changing national borders, treason, violations related to transportation, and unlawful entry into occupied areas.

The SBU indicated that the owner of the ship is subject to sanctions from Ukraine’s national security and has frequently altered the vessel’s name and declared foreign owners in attempts to circumvent these restrictions.

The detained ship will be handed over to Ukraine’s Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA), which manages assets connected to corruption and other criminal activities.

The General Prosecutor’s Office of Ukraine has announced that the captain of the vessel has been officially informed of charges related to the illegal entry to and exit from occupied territories.