The sanctioned Russian vessel Shtandart is attempting to enter Gibraltar on 26 September 2025. Far from being a benign replica, it operates under a flag of convenience, conceals its true ownership, and maintains close ties to the Kremlin’s propaganda network. The letter below, addressed to Gibraltar’s authorities, urges them to enforce UK sanctions and deny the Shtandart access to port.
To the attention of:
- HM Government of Gibraltar
- Gibraltar Maritime Authority
- Gibraltar Harbour Master’s Office
Subject: The sanctioned Russian vessel Shtandart is scheduled to call at Gibraltar on 26 September 2025
24 September 2025
Dear Madam, Dear Sir,
The Russian vessel Shtandart, MMSI 518999255, sailing under the Cook Islands flag of convenience, is heading for Gibraltar, where it intends to call on 26 September 2025.
- The Shtandart clearly falls within the scope of the United Kingdom’s sanctions.
- 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. The Shtandart clearly falls within the scope of the United Kingdom’s sanctions.
It attempted to enter UK ports during July 2025 but was refused entry because it is affected by :
- The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2022 Regulation 6, Prohibition on port entry, 57A
- The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2022 Regulation 6, Interpretation of Part 6, 57I
It is no concerned by:
- The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, Ships: exceptions from prohibition on port entry 61A
The Shtandart is indeed linked to Russian interests, even though it attempts to conceal this by resorting to the practices of that country’s shadow fleet.
2. Since 6 June 2024, the Russian vessel Shtandart has been flying the Cook Islands flag of convenience.
On 6 June 2024, the Shtandart, 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.
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.
3. 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 (1) 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
On 26 July 2025, the Shtandart once again disconnected its AIS until 2 August 2022. It took advantage of this to make an unannounced stopover in the port of Hvide Sande for several days without notifying the Danish maritime authorities. See the article on this subject : Formodet russisk spionskib lå flere dage i dansk havn: Kaptajn Vladimir hemmeligholdt besøget (Suspected Russian spy ship spent several days in Danish port: Captain Vladimir kept visit secret).
6. 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).
See also:
- Komsomolskaya Pravda, 06/08/2024 – Российский парусник «Штандарт» сделает третью попытку нарушить европейские санкции – (Russian sailing ship “Shtandard” will make a third attempt to violate European sanctions).
- DOSSIER. The Shtandart, propaganda organs and Russian media. (Summer 2024: Vladimir Martus gave interviews to Russian propaganda outlets: RIA Novosti, TASS, RBC, Izvestia, etc. He was presented as a national hero for fighting against the French authorities, sanctions, and EU institutions in hundreds of Russian press articles).
Attached (2 & 3) are the letters we received from the British Department for Transport following the alerts we sent them.
We remain at your disposal for any further information you may require.
Yours faithfully,
Bernard Grua
Nantes, Bretagne, France
Spokesperson for the international collective
No Shtandart In Europe
Email: noshtandartineurope@gmail.com
Website: https://bit.ly/No-Shtandart
Facebook: groups/noshtandartineurope
WhatsApp
Attachments
Property of Martus TV GmbH and Shtandart
Letters from the British Department for Transport
Shtandart‘s summer 2025 tour
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The "Shtandart" In Europe 
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