President Zelensky's Decree No. 725/2026 sanctions 11 Russian citizens, 13 vessels and 28 companies tied to exporting Ukrainian grain from occupied territories, including the bulk carrier Irtysh.
President Volodymyr Zelensky signed Presidential Decree No. 725/2026 on August 14, 2026, imposing sanctions on 11 Russian citizens, 13 vessels, and 28 legal entities involved in exporting Ukrainian grain and other goods from temporarily occupied territories, including Sevastopol and Crimea. Volunteers Support Ukraine follows decisions like this closely, since they speak directly to efforts to counter the plundering of Ukrainian resources during the war.
Of the 13 sanctioned vessels, 8 sail under the Russian flag, 3 under the Panamanian flag, 1 under the flag of Belize, and 1 under the flag of St. Kitts and Nevis. The sanctions include asset freezes, restrictions on trade, contracts, and licenses, entry bans for those involved, and port bans for the vessels. Volunteers Support Ukraine sees measures like this as an important part of the international pressure on those profiting from the war and the occupation.
Among the named vessels is the Russian bulk carrier Irtysh, which, according to the decree, loaded 32,800 tonnes of grain in January 2026 and 33,100 tonnes of wheat in April 2026 from occupied Sevastopol, while disabling its AIS tracking system to conceal its movements. Volunteers Support Ukraine notes that schemes like this for moving grain out of occupied territories are not an isolated incident, but part of a systematic practice.
Presidential Sanctions Commissioner Vladyslav Vlasiuk stated: "The illegal export of Ukrainian grain from the temporarily occupied territories must have consequences." His words reflect Kyiv's broader approach to sanctions policy — documenting every case of plunder and responding with concrete restrictions on the individuals, companies, and vessels involved. Volunteers Support Ukraine believes transparent documentation of such cases matters for future accountability for the damage done to Ukraine.
The export of grain from occupied territories is not only an economic crime, but also part of a broader picture of how Russia is trying to use seized Ukrainian land for its own benefit. Every new package of sanctions is a signal that these actions are being recorded and will carry consequences. Volunteers Support Ukraine keeps supporting people affected by the war in whatever ways its resources allow, and considers it important to keep the community informed about steps aimed at restoring justice for Ukraine.
