Russia’s Smuggled Grain Finds New Market in Saudi Arabia

An open-source investigation by Bellingcat and Lloyd’s List details how the Russian bulk carrier Krasnodar (IMO:9296781) conducted two 2025 voyages from Sevastopol’s Avlita grain terminal in occupied Crimea to Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Port and Jazan, corroborated by extended AIS dark periods and satellite imagery showing loading and docking. The report visually matches vessel features across multiple locations, contrasts these findings with operator Petrokhleb-Kuban’s denials, and situates the shipments within Russia’s broader pattern of dark grain logistics and sanctions-evasion practices via Crimean ports, noting Saudi Arabia’s emergence among importers and ongoing geopolitical implications.