Date of Publication: January 13, 2026
Version: 1.0
Licence: Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
Executive Summary
In 2025, the Russian vessel Shtandart experienced extensive operational restrictions across Europe as a direct consequence of national and European sanctions. The vessel was explicitly banned or denied access in seven European States, resulting in the cancellation of fourteen scheduled port calls and exclusion from participation in international maritime events such as the Tall Ships Races. Legal clarity was provided by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), which confirmed that Shtandart has been subject to European port sanctions since 16 April 2022.
While the vessel continued to make limited calls in France, particularly at La Rochelle, these remained largely unpublicised, contrasting sharply with the near-total operational isolation observed elsewhere. In other States coordinated efforts by national authorities, civil society organisations, and the No Shtandart in Europe collective prevented unauthorised port entries, sometimes resulting in detentions and close monitoring of crew members.
The attempted international tour of Shtandart in the summer of 2025 was significantly curtailed, both in scope and duration, demonstrating the practical enforcement of EU and national sanctions. The vessel’s residual activity in France represents an increasingly marginal exception, while the overall impact of these measures is a near-complete operational isolation of Shtandart in European waters. The 2025 events underscore the effectiveness of sustained, documented, and coordinated actions by authorities and transnational civil society in ensuring compliance with restrictive measures.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- 1. A residual and increasingly marginalised presence in France
- 2. The failure of attempts at international recognition and legitimisation
- 3. Circumventions, irregular port calls and official interventions: a constrained and shortened summer tour
- 4. Systematic refusals in Spain and Portugal and police interventions
- 5. Definitive legal closure of the debate at the European level
- 6. Legal and operational consequences of the attempted port calls in 2025
- 7. A French exception that is increasingly isolated in light of European law
- Conclusion – A port isolation now established at the European scale
- Exhibit: Operational, administrative and legal chronology of Shtandart during the year 2025
Introduction
This report, prepared by the No Shtandart in Europe collective, provides a detailed account of the operational restrictions, port exclusions, and regulatory enforcement measures affecting the Russian vessel Shtandart in Europe during 2025. It documents the vessel’s movements, highlights cases of non-compliance with European sanctions, and details the interventions by national and European authorities.
The report is based solely on primary sources, official records, and publicly verifiable information. Its purpose is to inform policymakers, regulatory authorities, researchers, and the public about the practical application of EU restrictive measures, the enforcement challenges encountered, and the remaining exceptions observed in France.
1. A residual and increasingly marginalised presence in France
The Shtandart, MMSI 518999255, continues to call at ports in France in 2025, especially in La Rochelle, Charente-Maritime, where it makes several port calls. The vessel is notably placed ashore there, for works, for nearly one month.
Among other port calls in La Rochelle, it also stays in the “bassin des chalutiers” during the Nautical Week. However, a new element deserves to be highlighted: neither the event organisers, nor the marina, nor the municipality provide any further information about the presence of the vessel.
The Russian frigate remains in the background, invisible in official communication. This absence of public promotion contrasts with the practices usually observed in La Rochelle or elsewhere during this type of event.
To justify this port occupation, Brice Blondel, Prefect of Charente-Maritime, invokes the fact that “the law of the sea prevails over European law”. In doing so, he omits paragraph 4 of Article 3ea of EU Regulation No. 833/2014 authorising port calls for the safeguarding of human life. This derogatory measure is reclassified by his services as “technical stopover”. There is therefore, according to them, no reason to oppose the entries of Shtandart, including for commercial purposes.
An article in the newspaper Sud-Ouest, dated 7 January 2026, quotes Patrice Bernier, director of the marina. According to him, Shtandart’s port calls in La Rochelle would be subject to prior approval by the General Secretariat of the Sea. Yet this body has no mandate to apply port sanctions.
- Read: Desk-Russie, 28 September 2025 – When the Russian ship Shtandart and La Rochelle defy European sanctions (fr)
Shtandart calls at Les Sables-d’Olonne (Vendée) on 23 April 2025.
It is present at the Semaine du Golfe du Morbihan from 25 May to 1 June 2025. This is its only known real participation in a maritime event for that year. This participation raises numerous questions, as explained by the collective to Thierry Verneuil, president of the event.
- Read: No Shtandart in Europe, 13 December 2025 – What conclusions can be drawn from the participation of the Russian frigate Shtandart in Gulf Week 2025?
All of these failures to comply with European restrictive measures are formally reported to the European Commission.
- No Shtandart in Europe, 12 February 2025 – Sanctions alert: in La Rochelle, the Russian vessel Shtandart continues to circumvent EU regulations, despite the clarification from the European Council and the decision by the French Council of State.
- No Shtandart in Europe, 23 April 2025 – Sanctions alert, Russian vessel ‘Shtandart’, today, 23/04/2025, in the port of Les Sables-d’Olonne (fr)
- No Shtandart in Europe, 23 May 2025 – Sanctions alert – Russian vessel Shtandart and organisers of Gulf Week 2025 plan to circumvent EU regulations once again (fr)
- No Shtandart in Europe, 17 December 2025 – Request for intervention by the European Commission regarding a failure to implement EU port sanctions in France (Morbihan and Charente-Maritime)
2. The failure of attempts at international recognition and legitimisation
The summer voyage is scheduled to take place from 2 July (Saint-Malo) to 5 September 2025 (Jersey). The attempt at an international tour by Shtandart does not have the expected effect. On the contrary, it reveals how far its situation in France is out of step with that in other European States, whether or not they are members of the Union. It has negative consequences for the image of the vessel and for that of its captain-owner due to irregular behaviours causing surprise, and even suspicion.
On 25 March 2025, Vanessa Mori, vice-president of Sail Training International, writes to the various host cities of the Tall Ships Races in order to ask them to welcome Shtandart. This intervention, carried out despite the national and European regulatory frameworks in force, does not succeed. The krysha1 of Shtandart cannot counter the rule of law of the States concerned.
Indeed, alerted by the No Shtandart in Europe collective, the British, Norwegian and Danish authorities, hosts of the Tall Ships Races, oppose any port call, due to national or European sanctions.
As a consequence, Shtandart is officially banned from participating in the Tall Ships Races.
Vladimir Martus, captain and de facto owner of Shtandart, attempts to instrumentalise the British press by saying that his vessel was banned in Aberdeen only because he was born in Russia. However, for its part, the Consulate General of Russia helps to clarify the real nature of Shtandart’s mission in a statement dated 19 July 2025. It strongly attacks the British authorities because of this refusal.
Representatives of the collective, in the other States targeted by Shtandart, are active both with the authorities and on the ground. In this respect, mention can be made of the monitoring of Shtandart in Killiney Bay (Ireland) by the association Ukrainian Action in Ireland in liaison with the Coastguard. A landing by the Shtandart crew is prevented.
The Embassy of Ukraine in Ireland intervenes explicitly, as shown by its letter addressed to the port services of Dublin. We have reasons to believe that this is also the case on the part of Ukraine’s diplomatic services in the United Kingdom, even if we do not have any document allowing this to be stated in an incontestable manner.
Direct consequence: none of the planned port calls for the summer of 2025 can be carried out. These are Jersey, Saint-Malo, Falmouth, Dublin, Isle of Man, Aberdeen, Kristiansand, Esbjerg, Sandefjord, Stavanger, Harwich, Ostend. Later, the same applies to Portugalete and Cascais.
These decisions were taken following detailed and consistent reports transmitted by the collective to the authorities concerned.
We have no evidence proving a refusal of a port call at Ostend (Belgium). However, there is no public document, including on Shtandart’s social networks, attesting to its passage through this port.
Within two months, namely July and September 2025, Shtandart was thus refused access to seven distinct European States: Ireland, United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Spain, Portugal.
3. Circumventions, irregular port calls and official interventions: a constrained and shortened summer tour
Three controversial port calls replace the fourteen initially planned. One, in Scotland, is carried out under dubious conditions. The other two take place without complying with European regulations. The second, in Ireland, in the middle of the night, can only last a few hours. The third extends over several days. Its discovery, a posteriori, creates widespread indignation in Denmark.
A Ukrainian activist from London is in multiple daily contacts with the authorities of ports likely to be visited by Shtandart. She contributes to thwarting an attempted entry at Scapa Pier, Orkney Islands, on 17 July 2025, thanks to the British Coastguard. It is likely that this same person, from as early as the Isles of Scilly, made port calls at other ports in Ireland and the United Kingdom impossible.
The unannounced port call at Inverie (Loch Nevis, Scotland) on 13 and 14 July 2025 does not trigger any known reaction. It is possible that Vladimir Martus played on the legal ambiguity between port and shelter. In any event, the isolated village, not connected to the road network, makes the disembarkation or embarkation of passengers difficult.
By contrast, the non-compliant port calls at Clogherhead (Ireland), during the night of 8 to 9 July 2025, and at Hvide Sande (Denmark), at the end of July 2025, are condemned both by national authorities and by the local press.
The 2025 summer and international tour of Shtandart is ultimately reduced to one month. Its duration is halved.
4. Systematic refusals in Spain and Portugal and police interventions
In September 2025, Shtandart fails to make a port call either in Spain or in Portugal.
Since 27 July 2024, the Russian vessel has been banned in Spanish territorial waters and expelled by police. The collective informs the authorities and Ukrainian associations in that country, as well as those in Portugal, of its approach.
The Portuguese diaspora, under the leadership of the Associação dos Ucranianos em Portugal, supported by the Ukrainian World Congress, mobilises extensively against the attempts of the Russian frigate. In Matosinhos, Leixões or Vila Nova, on 21 September 2025, these are prevented by the Portuguese maritime authorities. The same applies in Cascais, on 22 September, and in the Sagres region, on 24 September.
During this last attempt, five passengers (or crew members) are detained by law enforcement. A few days later, a crew member of Shtandart reports on the various circumvention operations implemented in Portugal. Reading this incriminating testimony is highly instructive. The collective communicates the document to the Portuguese authorities and also shares it online in Russian as well as in English.
As a result, in Ireland, Denmark, Spain and Portugal, Shtandart and Vladimir Martus are not only banned, but explicitly suspected and closely monitored.
At the end of these successive refusals, no operational port alternative is identified for Shtandart in European waters. In practice, the Russian frigate now has only one effective point of reception: the port of La Rochelle.
5. Definitive legal closure of the debate at the European level
On 7 August 2025, following the various alert letters, the European Commission once again confirms to the collective that Shtandart does indeed fall within the scope of European sanctions. It adds the specific responsibility of departmental prefects in the implementation of restrictive measures.
On 22 August 2025, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) delivers the decisive blow. It dismisses Shtandart’s action against Council decision (CFSP) No. 2024/1744 (Regulation No. 2024/1745), clearly stipulating that:
Shtandart falls within the scope of European Union restrictive measures since 16 April 2022.
This Order legally closes a debate on the applicability of sanctions, which had already ceased to have any basis after Order No. 2403878 of the Rennes Administrative Court of 11 July 2024 and Judgment No. 496439 of the Conseil d’État on 18 November 2024.
These confirmations occur within the framework of procedures that have, in part, been initiated and meticulously followed by the collective since 2022.
6. Legal and operational consequences of the attempted port calls in 2025
The attempted European tour of Shtandart in 2025 produces effects comparable to those observed during the contentious proceedings previously initiated by its captain-owner.
In both cases, the steps undertaken lead to a clarification and a strengthening of the applicable legal framework. The contentious actions result in unfavourable judicial decisions. The attempted port calls lead to explicit refusals, administrative interventions and increased coordination between national authorities.
These elements contribute to a more homogeneous application of restrictive measures at the European level and to a significant reduction in the vessel’s possibilities of port access. The French krysha of Shtandart emerges weakened.
7. A French exception that is increasingly isolated in light of European law
When taking into account all of the preceding elements, the situation observed in France, particularly in La Rochelle, now appears as an exception within a European environment closed to Shtandart.
Seven European States, as well as a growing number of French departments, have now explicitly banned Shtandart from their ports.
Combined with the Order of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) of 22 August 2025, this development places the prefectural authorities concerned in the face of their regulatory obligations.
The Prefect of Charente-Maritime receives a written, dated and reasoned formal notice on 13 August 2025 from the association Iroise Ukraine, a member of the collective. It requests the adoption of a prohibition Order. Legal proceedings against this prefect are envisaged in the event of inaction on his part. In parallel, a formal complaint against the French State would be lodged with the European institutions.
Furthermore:
- the repeated shutdowns of the Automatic Identification System (AIS),
- the attempts at berthing,
- and the unauthorised port calls
contribute to a marked deterioration of the image of the vessel and of the credibility still enjoyed by Vladimir Martus with certain maritime authorities or national security services.
Conclusion – A port isolation now established at the European scale
At the end of the year 2025, it appears that the Russian vessel Shtandart no longer has, in practice, operational access to European ports. Refusals of port calls, formal bans and interventions by maritime authorities have been applied in a convergent manner across all the States concerned, on the basis of European restrictive measures, confirmed by the European Commission and the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), as well as by the authorities of the United Kingdom and Norway.
This situation results from continuous, documented and coordinated work carried out by the various members of the No Shtandart in Europe collective, whose reports and actions addressed to national and European authorities have contributed in a decisive manner to the effective application of these measures. The port calls still observed in France, and in particular in La Rochelle, now constitute a residual, isolated and contested situation in light of the practices implemented in the other European States.
- Krysha (Russian “roof”): an informal protection system based on networks of influence, aiming to circumvent or instrumentalize the law. See: Why Does the Russian Frigate “Shtandart” Persist in Legal Actions with a Foregone Outcome? ↩︎
Exhibit:
Operational, administrative and legal chronology of Shtandart during the year 2025
1st quarter 2025
20 January – 14 February 2025 – Shtandart is in dry dock at Port Atlantique, La Rochelle. source
Mid-February – April 2025 – Shtandart is anchored under the lee of Île d’Aix or in the port of La Rochelle. source 1 source 2 source 3
25 March 2025 – Vanessa Mori, Vice- of Sail Training International, asks the local organisations of the Tall Ships Races to host Shtandart, in contradiction with the regulations. source
2nd quarter 2025
23 April 2025 – Shtandart calls at Les Sables d’Olonne. source
15 May 2025 – The No Shtandart in Europe collective publishes the confidential privileges granted to Shtandart by the French authorities. source
25 May – 1 June 2025 – Shtandart takes part in the Semaine du Golfe du Morbihan (Gulf Week). source
18 – 26 June 2025 – Shtandart is in port at La Rochelle during the Semaine du nautisme (Nautical Week). source
19 June 2025 – The Prefect of Ille-et-Vilaine confirms that Shtandart is prohibited from calling at ports in the department and, a fortiori, at Saint-Malo. source
26 June 2025 – The local press reveals that the government of Jersey has banned Shtandart from calling at the port of Saint-Helier. source
3rd quarter 2025
2 July 2025 – Shtandart, prohibited from calling at ports along the Côtes-d’Armor, leaves its anchorage off Saint-Cast-le-Guildo for a wide international tour and participation in the Tall Ships Races. source
6 July 2025 – The Embassy of Ukraine in Ireland writes to the Dublin Port Authority. source
6 July 2025 – Shtandart switches off its Automatic Identification System (AIS) along the Irish coast. source
7 – 8 July 2025 – Shtandart, inspected by the Irish Coastguard, is prohibited from entering the port of Dublin (Ireland) and must reconnect its AIS. source
7 – 8 July 2025 – Shtandart is anchored in Killiney Bay. source
Night of 8 – 9 July 2025 – Shtandart makes an unannounced and unauthorised port call at Clogherhead, Ireland. source
13 – 14 July 2025 – Shtandart makes an unannounced port call at Inverie (Scotland). source
15 July 2025 – Sail Training International states that the port calls at Aberdeen (Scotland), Kristiansand (Norway) and Esbjerg (Denmark) are prohibited and that, as a consequence, Shtandart is not authorised to participate in the Tall Ships Races. source
17 July 2025 – Shtandart disconnects its AIS. source
17 July 2025 – Shtandart’s attempt to enter Scapa Pier (Orkney Islands) is thwarted by the Coastguard and it must reconnect its AIS. source
17 July 2025 – The Consulate General of Russia issues a scathing statement in favour of Shtandart and against the British authorities. source-en source-ru
27 July 2025 – Shtandart disconnects its AIS in the North Sea. source
Last week of July 2025 – Shtandart, with AIS disconnected, is in Hvide Sande, in an unannounced port call to the Danish authorities. source
2 August 2025 – Shtandart therefore cuts short its summer tour by one month. source
2 August 2025 – Shtandart returns to French territorial waters and reconnects its AIS. source
7 August 2025 – The European Commission sends a second confirmation to the No Shtandart in Europe collective. source
13 August 2025 – The association Iroise-Ukraine and the collective send a formal notice to the Prefect of Charente-Maritime. source
22 August 2025 – The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), the highest court of the Union, states that Shtandart has been under sanctions since 16 April 2022. source
August and early September 2025 – Shtandart makes various port calls at La Rochelle. source
17 September 2025 – Shtandart leaves La Rochelle to head towards Spain. source
19 September 2025 – Shtandart enters the territorial waters of Spanish Galicia despite the ban notified to it on 27 July 2024. source
20 September 2025 – Pavlo Sadokha, president of the Associação dos Ucranianos em Portugal, calls for the mobilisation of Ukrainians living in Portugal’s port cities. source.
21 September 2025 – Shtandart, monitored by the patrol vessel Apulia, unsuccessfully attempts to enter one of the ports of northern Portugal. source
22 September 2025 – The Ukrainian World Congress urges Ukrainians in Portugal to remain vigilant due to the arrival of Shtandart. source-en source-ukr
22 September 2025 – Flash mob by Ukrainians in Cascais, Portugal. source
22 September 2025 – Shtandart unsuccessfully attempts to enter the port of Cascais. source
24 September 2025 – The passengers that Shtandart attempts to embark via its tender are intercepted by law-enforcement forces off Sagres, Portugal, and are unable to join the ship. source
26 September 2025 – Shtandart docks in Tangier, Morocco, before heading, with AIS disconnected, towards Bizerte, Tunisia. source
4th quarter 2025
1 October 2025 – A crew member of Shtandart publishes on VK (the Russian Facebook) the internal account of the irregularities committed by his ship along the Portuguese coast. source
4 – 5 October 2025 – Shtandart calls at Bizerte, Tunisia. source 1 source 2
October 2025 – Shtandart transits through the Aegean Sea and disembarks, without authorisation, a passenger on a Greek island. source
October 2025 – 18 April 2026 – Shtandart takes part in a film shoot and then carries out cruises along the Turkish coast. source
Projects 2026
18 – 28 April 2026 – Shtandart plans a cruise from Bodrum, Turkey, to Bizerte, Tunisia. source
21 – 30 June 2026 – Shtandart plans a cruise, La Rochelle – Saint-Malo, with stopovers in Brittany on behalf ofKombat-tour, a company from Smolensk, Russia. source
Bibliographic Reference
Author: No Shtandart in Europe Collective
Year: 2026
Title: REPORT / MEMORANDUM by the No Shtandart in Europe Collective – Shtandart Vessel: Exclusions and Port Calls in Europe in 2025
Version: 1.0
Licence: Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
URL: Available online for consultation
Contact:
WhatsApp: +33 753 900 344
Emai: noshtandartineurope@gmail.com
Web site:https://bit.ly/No-Shtandart
The "Shtandart" In Europe 