Sixteen Ukrainian sailors who had been aboard a US-detained “shadow fleet” tanker have already been released, but they say they do not intend to return to Ukraine—citing fears of persecution and possible charges of treason. Of the seventeen Ukrainians, only the chief mate remains under arrest.
The crew included residents of Odesa and Kherson, as well as one sailor from Kyiv. When they were hired, the sailors were told the vessel had no links to Russia and was not under sanctions; the shipping company was registered in the Seychelles, and a route toward Venezuela was not initially part of the plan.
After the tanker switched to a Russian flag and was detained by US authorities, five Ukrainians gave testimony to the FBI. The rest were purchased tickets to destinations of their choosing and released. Earlier, two Russian nationals who had been aboard were also freed—one of them a resident of Crimea.