On February 15, 2026, the bulk carrier, Grumant (IMO: 9385879) was pictured at the occupied Ukrainian Port of Feodosia on the Crimean peninsula. Satellite imagery suggests it had already been there for several days. It appeared to stock up on grain before departing on a two-month-long journey eventually docking at the Port of Benghazi in Libya on April 18.
While there have been previous reports of grain shipments from occupied Ukraine arriving in Libya, this is only the second time a Russian ship has been observed delivering what the Ukrainian government describes as âstolenâ grain to the country. The previous case involved the Damas Wave which travelled in January of last year to the port of Misrata which is under the control of the UN-recognised Government of National Unity (GNU). In addition to satellite imagery, Bellingcat deployed a new technique that analysed Grumantâs heading data which was contained in AIS information provided by Lloydâs List Intelligence, to help confirm Grumantâs presence in Feodosia.
Bellingcat has been tracking smuggled Ukrainian grain shipments as they find new markets, five of the ships we previously identified have since been sanctioned by the EU while another was sanctioned by the US Department of Treasury .
Bosphorus Strait
Grumant transits the Bosphorus Strait in the middle of the night.
Black Sea
Grumant enters a region of the Black Sea known for GNSS interference, meaning that Grumantâs publicly reported Automated Identification System (AIS) position is unreliable.
Port of Feodosia
On February 15, a high resolution satellite image confirms the ship is docked at the port of Feodosia at berth No. 1 that is used for bulk and metal cargo. Matching features visible include Grumantâs grey decking, its seven hatches and bright yellow front mast. What appears to be leftover grain can be seen under the two port crates, immediately next to the ship.
Black Sea
Grumant exits the area of signal interference, meaning that its reported position on ship tracking services is now reliable again. Its AIS messages indicate it is travelling towards the Bosphorus.
Bosphorus Strait
Grumant transits the Bosphorus Strait towards the Sea of Marmara. Judging by the draft, with no visible red paint on its hull, the ship appears to be fully laden.
Izmir Anchorage
Grumant arrives in Izmir, Turkey on February 23 and anchors off the coast until March 13.
Over the course of three weeks, Grumant never enters the Port of Izmir. It is not known if it was denied entry. Bellingcat asked the port operators but did not receive a response before publication.
Planet Labs PBC.
AliaÄa
Grumant then loiters off the coast of AliaÄa, about 50 km from Izmir. It stays here until March 16, never entering the port. It again is not known if it was denied entry. Bellingcat asked the port operators but did not receive a response before publication.
Near Benghazi
Grumant arrives in Libyan waters and stays off the coast of Benghazi until April 1.
Libyan Waters
Grumant briefly leaves the coast of Benghazi, but returns a few days later.
Benghazi
Grumant leaves the anchorage on April 18 and docks at the port of Benghazi where it unloads the grain. The ship was captured in a Vantor satellite image on April 20.
It leaves port on April 23, and heads back towards the Bosphorus.
Bosphorus Strait
After spending a few days off the coast of Tuzla, Grumant transits the Bosphorus towards the Black Sea.
Lloydâs List Intelligence has previously reported on the expansion of Russiaâs grain smuggling operations , beyond the occupied port of Sevastopol to include Feodosia port .
According to the Ukrainian activism, journalism and hacker group, Kiborg News , Grumant used deceptive shipping practices to deliver grain to Latakia, Syria in 2024. The report included several of Grumantâs shipping manifests, which showed it had repeatedly exported grain from Occupied Crimea to Syria.
Heading Data Helps Locate Grumant
It is standard maritime practice that ships broadcast Automatic Identification System (AIS) messages which include a shipâs position, heading, and draught (among other information).
Because of longstanding Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) interference in parts of the Black Sea, the position data transmitted by an affected shipâs AIS system is often unreliable.
Between February 7 and February 19, 2026, data from Lloydâs List Intelligence shows the Grumant transmitted 29 AIS messages, with unreliable positions in the vicinity of Feodosia. We know these positions are unreliable as they are erratic and some of them report the ship as being positioned on land.
Unreliable AIS positions â Grumantâs reported positions between February 7-19, 2026, via Lloydâs List Seasearcher.
However, according to the IMO , the heading data transmitted by a shipâs AIS system must come from an onboard compass. A compass is unaffected by GNSS interference, meaning it is a more reliable source of information in these coâŠ
Read the full article at Bellingcat â
Netherlands