Russian Ship Grumant Tracks Smuggled Ukrainian Grain to Libya

On February 15, 2026, the bulk carrier Grumant was spotted at the occupied Ukrainian port of Feodosia in Crimea. Satellite imagery indicates that the ship had been there for several days before embarking on a two-month journey that concluded with its arrival at the Port of Benghazi in Libya on April 18. This marks only the second instance where a Russian vessel has been observed delivering what Ukraine's government terms "stolen" grain to Libya.

The previous documented case involved the ship Damas Wave, which traveled from Crimea to Misrata, Libya, last year. The use of satellite imagery and new analysis techniques by investigative organization Bellingcat, such as examining heading data contained in Automatic Identification System (AIS) information provided by Lloyd’s List Intelligence, helped confirm Grumant's presence at Feodosia.

These findings underscore the evolving tactics employed by Russia to circumvent international sanctions. As smuggled Ukrainian grain shipments continue to find new markets, Bellingcat's tracking efforts have led to significant consequences for some of these vessels. Five previously identified ships have been sanctioned by the European Union and another was penalized by the U.S. Department of Treasury. The ongoing surveillance highlights the persistent nature of grain smuggling operations from occupied territories in Ukraine.