Sweden's Decision to Return the Caffa Cargo to Ukraine

In a significant move, Sweden has announced its decision to return the cargo ship "Caffa" to Ukraine, which had been intercepted earlier this year while allegedly transporting stolen Ukrainian grain from Russian-occupied territories. This vessel, measuring 96 meters, had set sail from Casablanca, Morocco, on February 24 and was en route to Saint Petersburg, Russia, when it was boarded by armed Swedish police off the coast of Trelleborg in March. According to judicial documents reviewed by AFP, the Swedish Supreme Court declined to entertain an appeal from the ship's owner, thereby affirming two previous rulings that dictate the ship and its cargo will be handed over to Ukraine.

The "Caffa" was intercepted following a request for judicial assistance from Ukraine, as it faced ongoing investigations concerning its activities. Notably, the ship was sailing under a false Guinean flag, and the majority of its crew members were Russian nationals. The owner of the vessel remains difficult to identify, and it is suspected that the ship lacks proper insurance, as indicated by Carl-Oskar Bohlin, Sweden's Minister of Civil Defense.

Implications of the Ruling Against the Russian Phantom Fleet

The term "Russian phantom fleet" refers to aging vessels that operate without adequate insurance and ownership transparency, which Russia allegedly uses to evade Western sanctions. The "Caffa" was reportedly carrying a cargo of grain that had previously been implicated in the theft of Ukrainian agricultural products, including shipments from the port of Sevastopol in Crimea back in July 2025. After these illicit activities, it was reported that the vessel had offloaded its cargo in Tartous, Syria.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriï Sybiga praised the Supreme Court's ruling, describing it as a historic decision that sets an important precedent, showcasing that decisive law enforcement actions, combined with judicial independence and impartiality, can lead to tangible accountability. The Ukrainian government continues its efforts to combat the Russian phantom fleet and its capacity to generate revenue for financing the ongoing conflict.

As reported by leparisien.fr.