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Este artículo en EspañolThe Shtandart MMSI 518999255, a vessel under sanctions, claims not to be under a Russian flag, to be managed by a German company, and to be owned by a Finnish citizen. Given that it frequently disconnects its AIS, it is clear that this is a set-up designed to circumvent the sanctions, and that the Shtandart is a vessel belonging to the Russian shadow fleet. Meanwhile, in order to fuel public outrage and hatred against the authorities and the institutions, the Shtandart’s skipper and hidden owner pretends that it is because he was « once born in Russia » that his ship is sanctioned.
- Since 6 June 2024, the Russian vessel Shtandart has been flying the Cook Islands flag of convenience.
- The Shtandart would be managed by a ‘German’ company.
- The Shtandart would be ‘owned’ by a Finnish citizen.
- Like the other ships in the Russian shadow fleet, the Shtandart conceals its position.
- The close links between the Shtandart and the Russian regime have been proven.
1. Since 6 June 2024, the Russian vessel Shtandart has been flying the Cook Islands flag of convenience.
On 6 June 2024, the Shtandart MMSI 518999255, which previously belonged to the St Petersburg-based company Shtandart Project, switched its Russian flag for that of the Cook Islands in order to circumvent the restrictive port measures taken against Russia. These measures are designed to sanction Russia for the Bucha massacre. They are defined in Article 3ea of Regulation (EU) No 833/2014.
It should be noted that paragraph 2 of Article 3ea specifies that changing the flag does not remove the vessel from the scope of the sanctions.
Even when registered in the Cook Islands, the Shtandart frequently flies a large Russian Empire flag at the top of the main mast, or even the foremast. It is also possible to check the Shtandart’s profiles on Marine Traffic and Vessel Finder. Although these accounts were created after the Shtandart was registered in the Cook Islands, the ship is depicted flying the Russian imperial flag, the Russian war flame and the Russian national flag.
Furthermore, to put an end to the fallacious version of the sanctions circulating in France, on 24 June 2024 the European Council issued CFSP Declaration No. 2024/1744 and (EU) Regulation No. 2024/1745, which clarified that replicas of historic ships were indeed covered by the sanctions. This clarification explicitly refers to the Shtandart and now appears in paragraph 3a) of Article 3ea of (EU) Regulation No 833/2014. This is a CLARIFICATION and not an ‘extension’, as claimed by the owner of the Shtandart.
2. The Shtandart would be managed by a ‘German’ company.
The commercial company, ‘Martus TV GmbH’ is domiciled at a P.O. Box in Hamburg. According to the attached certificate, the main shareholder is a Russian citizen Vladimir Martus, the skipper of the Shtandart. He holds 80% of the shares in ‘Martus TV GmbH’. The remaining 20% is owned by Russian citizen Irina Ermakova. She is Vladimir Martus’s wife. Vladimir Martus is the Chairman and Managing Director. Therefore, ‘Martus TV GmbH’ is a Russian shadow company, controlled and owned by a Russian citizen. On the same certificate, Vladimir Martus claims to hold dual Russian and Ukrainian nationality. This claim is obviously false.
‘Martus TV GmbH’, a Russian shadow company owned and controlled by Vladimir Martus, claims to be the ‘managing owner’ of the Shtandart. Consequently, the Russian citizen, Vladimir Martus is the hidden but very real owner of the Shtandart through ‘Martus TV GmbH’.
3. The Shtandart would be ‘owned’ by a Finnish citizen.
During the first half of 2024, ownership was transferred from the company ‘Shtandart Project’ to Maria (Mariia) Martus, daughter of Vladimir Martus. A Russian citizen born in Russia, Maria Martus completed her higher education at Aalto University in Helsinki. This enabled her to obtain a Finnish passport.
However, Maria (Mariia) Martus, employee at WSP Finland, is merely a front for circumventing European sanctions. As explained above, the real owner is Vladimir Martus.
4. Like the other ships in the Russian shadow fleet, the Shtandart conceals its position.
While passing Kilmore Quay en route to Dublin in the Irish Sea on 6 July 2025, the Shtandart disconnected its automatic identification system (AIS) at 10:30 UTC. It did not activate the system again until it was anchored off the village of Killiney, as it had not obtained permission to call at Dublin or any other Irish port.
Then, on 9 July 2025 at 00:00 UTC, the Russian vessel made an unannounced and unauthorised overnight call at the small Irish port of Clogherhead.
On 17 July 2025, while attempting to dock at Scapa Pier in the UK, the Shtandart again disconnected its AIS. It was expelled by the British Coastguard.
5. The close links between the Shtandart and the Russian regime have been proven.
Hundreds of Russian documents prove Vladimir Martus’ connections with the Russian presidential administration and its propaganda outlets. This contradicts his alleged status as an ‘opponent’ of the regime. The private yacht Shtandart is not the training ship it claims to be either. To avoid making this text too long, we will simply refer to the press release from the Russian Consulate General in Edinburgh, which raises questions about the Shtandart’s real mission(s).
Further information can be found in the letter we sent to the ‘Norwegian Directorate for Export Control and Sanctions’ (DEKSA) on 23 July 2025 in response to a Vladimir Martus’ ultimatum.
If you have any questions, we would be happy to answer them in writing or via WhatsApp. We would be delighted to share some or all of the extensive documentation we have accumulated over the past three years on the outlaw Martus and the Shtandart, an ambassador for Russian imperialist propaganda.
No Shtandart In Europe
Email: noshtandartineurope@gmail.com
Website: https://bit.ly/No-Shtandart
Facebook: groups/noshtandartineurope
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