Sanctions — 2026-06-14

Bellingcat Tracks Russian Grain Smuggling Ship Grumant From Occupied Feodosia to Libya Using AIS Heading Data

BLUFHeading-data attribution now functions where Russian GNSS spoofing defeated conventional tracking, closing the last major gap between open-source identification and sanctions enforcement.

Bellingcat's June 12 investigation confirmed Grumant at occupied Feodosia port, Crimea from approximately February 6 to 18, cross-referencing satellite imagery with AIS heading data from Lloyd's List Intelligence 1. Because GNSS spoofing renders Black Sea AIS position data unreliable, Bellingcat used compass-derived heading readings; all 29 messages during the Feodosia window reported 267-268 degrees against the port's 267.5-degree bearing 1. Grumant anchored off Izmir and Aliağa, Turkey from February 23 to March 16 without calling at either port; Ukrainian Shipping Magazine, citing SeaKrime journalist Kateryna Yaresko, reported Turkish authorities denied entry, a claim Bellingcat could not confirm 12. Following a Morocco detour, the vessel disabled AIS before SeaKrime reacquired it in Libyan waters in early April 2. The vessel docked at Benghazi on April 18 and completed discharge by April 23, confirmed by Vantor satellite imagery on April 20 13.

Analysis
Bellingcat's compass-bearing methodology gives sanctions enforcers an attribution tool precisely where GNSS spoofing defeats conventional AIS, and rests on a single investigation with secondary amplification rather than independent corroboration. Grumant's Benghazi discharge is only the second confirmed Russian shadow-grain delivery to Libya, extending Moscow's network beyond Syria and deepening its commercial ties to Haftar's eastern enclave. The Turkish anchorage shows market-access pressure is operationally real but insufficient to redirect cargo. Commercial scheduling rather than sovereign denial remains a competing explanation, as Bellingcat received no response from port operators before publication. Six prior vessels from this tracking series have drawn EU or US Treasury designations, a direct line from open-source attribution to enforcement action.

3 sources

Heading Off: New Technique Helps Track Grain Smuggling Expansion to Libya - Bellingcat
Russian bulk carrier with stolen Ukrainian grain spotted in Libya - Ukrainian Shipping Magazine
Russian-flagged ship GRUMANT arrives in Benghazi after controversial journey - The Libya Observer