Memorandum on the Participation of Ukrainian Stakeholders and the Ukrainian Diaspora in the Case of the Russian Vessel Shtandart (2022–2025) 

Publié parBernard GruaPublié dansShtandartÉtiquettes :, , , , ,
Cover page of a memorandum documenting the participation of Ukrainian stakeholders and the Ukrainian diaspora in the enforcement of European Union sanctions against the Russian vessel Shtandart (2022–2025).
Reference Memorandum – Factual Report 

Prepared by: Bernard Grua
Organisation: No Shtandart in Europe
Year: 2026
Language: English
Version: Published online
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This presentation is intended for European institutions, national authorities, the media, and civil society organisations.

Introduction

This memorandum provides a targeted analysis of the case of the Russian vessel Shtandart. It is not intended to offer an exhaustive inventory of all actions carried out by the No Shtandart in Europe campaign. The purpose of this document is to illustrate the sustained involvement of Ukrainian stakeholders, both in Ukraine and throughout the diaspora, in the mobilisation aimed at preventing the Russian vessel from circumventing European Union sanctions. 

The memorandum synthesises factual information drawn from Ukrainian media, documented actions by civil society representatives, and the EU legal framework, including administrative and judicial decisions. This synthesis highlights a dynamic of vigilance and respect for the rule of law, demonstrating the continued attention and consistent responses of Ukrainian stakeholders within the European context. The facts presented are public, documented, and independently verifiable regardless of the author of this document.

Structure of the document

I. Documented Representations and Official Actions by Ukrainian Stakeholders 

Since June 2022, Ukrainian political representatives and organisations of the Ukrainian diaspora across Europe have officially opposed attempts by the Russian vessel Shtandart to circumvent European Union sanctions. Whenever the competent authorities were formally approached, the documented representations listed below generally resulted in explicit administrative decisions.

Important clarification: The expression « Russian vessel » is used in its ordinary descriptive sense and reflects the designation adopted by the media in the documents cited. This designation is independently confirmed by:

  1. specialised Ukrainian and international media;
  2. Russian media themselves, which use this expression to refer to the Shtandart, including after June 2024.

This convergence demonstrates that the designation « Russian vessel » reflects an objective, verifiable and undisputed fact, rather than an assessment or opinion on the part of the author.

2022 – Official Ukrainian Representations 

  • 8 July 2022 – Letter to French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne requesting the withdrawal of the sanctions exemption granted to the Russian vessel Shtandart. (en)
    Author: Collective No Shtandart in Europe
    Signatories:
    • Oleg Sentsov, former Kremlin political prisoner, film director, Honorary Citizen of Paris, serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine;
    • Roman Sushchenko, former Kremlin political prisoner, journalist, First Deputy Chairman of the Cherkasy Regional Council;
    • Taras Beniakh, President of the Cossack Cultural Association Kich (Lviv), Otaman of the chaika Presviata Pokrova, serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine;
    • Jean-Pierre Pasternak, President of the Union of Ukrainians in France;
    • together with approximately thirty Franco-Ukrainian associations.
  • 12 July 2022 – Letter to the Galician authorities opposing the participation of the Shtandart in the Ruta Iacobus Maris event in Vigo. (es).
    Participation was prohibited by the authorities.
    Author: Marta Skyba, President of the Asociación de Ucranianos en Galicia – Girasol.
    Co-signatories:
    • Yourii Tchopyk, President of the Ukrainian Community in Spain;
    • Roman Sushchenko, former Kremlin political prisoner, journalist, First Deputy Chairman of the Cherkasy Regional Council;
    • Taras Beniakh, President of the Cossack Cultural Association Kich (Lviv), Otaman of the chaika Presviata Pokrova, serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine;
    • Michel Tereshchenko, Mayor of Hlukhiv (2015–2020);
    • Jean-Pierre Pasternak, President of the Union of Ukrainians in France;
    • together with more than thirty Ukrainian associations from Spain and France.

2023 – Official Ukrainian Representations 

2024 – Official Ukrainian Representations 

  • 22 July 2024 – Request to prohibit the entry of the Shtandart into the Port of Vigo  (es).
    The Russian vessel was formally notified by the Spanish authorities of a ban applicable to all Spanish ports.
    Addressee: Harbour Master’s Office of the Port of Vigo.
    Author: Mariia Pavlenko, President of the Asociación Galega de Axuda a Ucraína (AGA Ucraina).

2025 – Official Ukrainian Representations 

General observation: The first successful outcome was achieved in Vigo on 22 July 2022, following the initiative of Marta Skyba, President of the Girasol Association of Ukrainians in Galicia. In every European country concerned—whether a Member State of the European Union or not—the competent authorities responded to requests seeking the cancellation of the Shtandart‘s planned port calls. Among the countries covered by the documented representations, France remains the only clearly established exception to date.

In France, Spain, Ukraine, Ireland and Portugal, a variety of initiatives have been undertaken in support of the No Shtandart in Europe campaign.

II. Demonstrations, flash-mobs and Public Events Involving Ukrainians from Ukraine and the Diaspora

Since June 2022, a series of initiatives has been organised in France, Spain, Ukraine, Ireland and Portugal in support of the No Shtandart in Europe campaign. Several of the mobilisations listed below preceded or accompanied administrative decisions prohibiting the Shtandart from calling at ports.

For detailed information on each event, please follow the link corresponding to the relevant year.

2022 – Public Events 

  • 12 June 2022 – La Rochelle, France – Flash-mob in front of the Shtandart.
  • 22 July 2022 – Vigo, Spain – Demonstration against the participation of the Shtandart in the Ruta Iacobus Maris.
    The participation of the Shtandart was prohibited by the authorities.
  • 6 August 2022 – La Rochelle, France – Flash-mob in front of the Shtandart.
  • 15 August 2022 – Camaret, France – Demonstration in front of and aboard the Shtandart protesting the display by the Russian vessel of the Ukrainian national colours as a captured prize flag.
  • 11 December 2022 – La Rochelle, France – Demonstration against the presence of the Shtandart in La Rochelle.

2023 – Public Events

  • February 2023 – Ukraine – Flash-mobs opposing the participation of the Shtandart in L’Armada Rouen 2023:
    • Dnipro,
    • Bucha
    • Odesa
    • Kropyvnytskyi.
  • 11 February 2023 – Nantes, France – Flash-mob against the participation of the Shtandart in L’Armada Rouen 2023.
  • 15 February 2023 – Paris, France – Flash-mob against the participation of the Shtandart in L’Armada Rouen 2023.
  • 16 February 2023 – Lorient, France – Demonstration against the participation of the Shtandart in L’Armada Rouen 2023.
  • 18 February 2023 – Saintes, France – Demonstration against the participation of the Shtandart in L’Armada Rouen 2023.
  • 18 February 2023 – Rouen, France – Demonstration against the participation of the Shtandart in L’Armada Rouen 2023.
  • 18 March 2023 – Vannes, France – Demonstration against the participation of the Shtandart in Semaine du Golfe du Morbihan 2023.
  • 29 April 2023 – Rennes, France – Demonstration against the Shtandart calling at ports in Brittany.
  • 18 May 2023 – Baden, France – Demonstration against the participation of the Shtandart in Semaine du Golfe du Morbihan 2023.
  • 17 August 2023 – Saint-Nazaire, France – Flash-mob during the Shtandart‘s port call.

2024 – Public Events

  • 31 May 2024 – Brest, France – Demonstration against the entry of the Shtandart into Brest.
    The port call was prohibited by the authorities.
  • 9 July 2024 – Brest, France – Demonstration against the participation of the Shtandart in Brest Maritime Festival 2024.
    The prefectural order prohibiting the vessel’s participation was strictly enforced, with support from a French Navy patrol vessel.
  • 16 July 2024 – Brest, France – Participation in a conference organised by the Shtandart concerning opposition to European Union sanctions and to the prefectural order issued by the Prefect of Finistère.
  • 23 September 2024 – La Rochelle, France – Demonstration outside the premiere of the documentary film The Incredible Odyssey of the Shtandart.
  • 10 October 2024 – Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine – Conference at Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University on the imperialist culture promoted by the Shtandart.
  • 11 October 2024 – Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine – Conference at the Vagabundo Cultural Centre on the preferential treatment granted to the Shtandart and pro-Russian influence networks in France.
  • 17 October 2024 – Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine – Conference at King Danylo University on the Shtandart‘s violations of European Union sanctions.

2025 – Public Events

  • July 2025 – Numerous and frequent contacts by the head of a Ukrainian association in London directly alerting port authorities whose ports were considered potential destinations for the Shtandart.
    This initiative made a significant contribution to the effective enforcement of UK sanctions against the Russian vessel. 
  • 8 July 2025 – Killiney Bay, Ireland – Ukrainian activists monitored the Shtandart in cooperation with the Irish Coast Guard.
    The crew was prevented from coming ashore.
  • 22 September 2025 – Cascais, Portugal – Flash-mob opposing the attempted port call of the Shtandart.
    The authorities did not authorise the vessel to berth.

Whenever the outcome of a representation or public mobilisation is indicated, it refers exclusively to an administrative, judicial or factual consequence that has been documented and independently verified.

III. Coverage of the Shtandart Case in Ukrainian Media 

Since the European Council’s decision of 24 June 2024 and the publication, on 7 July 2024, of the prefectural order issued by the Prefect of the Finistère department (France), Ukrainian media have closely followed developments in the Shtandart case. The publications listed below do not constitute primary sources for this memorandum. Rather, they demonstrate the sustained attention devoted to the case by Ukrainian media and its significance within the public debate.

2022 – Ukrainian Media Coverage 

August 2022 – Odesa

2024 – Ukrainian Media Coverage 

June 2024 – The La Rochelle case

July 2024 – First prefectural order against the Shtandart and Spanish ban

August 2024 – La Rochelle again, but new prefectural orders elsewhere

October 2024 – The campaign speaks in Ukraine

2025 – Ukrainian Media Coverage 

May 2025 – Le Havre says no as well

June 2025 – Ban on access to the ports of Ille-et-Vilaine

July 2025 – Unauthorised port call in Ireland

September 2025 – CJEU order, Portuguese veto and police intervention

October 2025 – La Rochelle persists

December 2025 – Appeal to the European Commission

Comprehensive Collection of Ukrainian Media Coverage

Conclusion

Based on the documented facts, the case of the Russian vessel Shtandart demonstrates the sustained vigilance and active engagement of Ukrainian stakeholders, both in Ukraine and throughout the diaspora, in promoting the effective implementation of European Union sanctions. 

Annex: Chronology of European Union Regulations and Administrative and Judicial Decisions Concerning the Shtandart

This Annex provides, for reference purposes, a summary of the principal legal instruments and administrative and judicial decisions applicable to the Shtandart. It is not intended as a legal analysis but as a chronological record of the applicable legal acts.

2022

2024

2025

It should be recalled that legal proceedings do not have suspensive effect. Consequently, the applicable European Union legislation and the judicial decisions already delivered remain fully applicable to the Shtandart. 

See also

This memorandum presented through info-graphics : How Ukrainian Stakeholders Helped Enforce EU Sanctions Against the Russian Vessel Shtandart (2022–2025)

Bibliographic Reference

GRUA, Bernard (ed.). Memorandum on the Participation of Ukrainian Stakeholders and the Ukrainian Diaspora in the Case of the Russian Vessel Shtandart (2022–2025). Nantes: No Shtandart in Europe Campaign, January 2026. Reference factual memorandum, online edition.

Publié par Bernard Grua

Graduated from Paris "Institut d'Etudes Politiques", financial auditor, photographer, founder and spokesperson of the worldwide movement which opposed to the delivery of Mistral invasion vessels to Putin's Russia, contributor to French and foreign media for culture, heritage and geopolitics.

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