Houthi-Controlled Port Receives Vessel from Occupied Crimea After UN Inspection Body Grants Clearance

An investigation by Bellingcat and Lloyd’s List traces the Russian-flagged bulk carrier Zafar (IMO:9720263) as it allegedly switched off AIS to load grain at the sanctioned Sevastopol port in occupied Crimea, then reactivated AIS, called at Djibouti, received UNVIM clearance, and docked at Saleef, Yemen. Using satellite imagery, AIS logs, and port photos, the report reconstructs the voyage and underscores the policy dilemma of a UN mechanism clearing a shipment potentially sourced from occupied Ukrainian territory, while noting no UN sanctions were violated.