Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) has notified Russian citizen Nikolay Elagin of заочном подозрении (in absentia suspicion) for alleged involvement in transporting grain from occupied Ukrainian territories. Elagin, born in Novocheboksarsk, served as the captain of the bulk carrier Matros Pozynich from March 2022 to June 2024.

According to the investigation, Elagin allegedly twice docked the vessel in Sevastopol's port, which has been closed since 2014, to load grain from occupied areas and transport it to Latakia, Syria, under the guise of Russian products. The SBU claims over 54,000 tons of wheat were exported in two separate shipments in November 2022 and January 2023. The vessel is listed in the Ukrainian intelligence (GUR MOU) database as participating in the export of grain from occupied territories.