A Danish affiliated company is helping Russia export grain from Ukrainian territories annexed by the Russian Federation

“The Sea of Azov has become an internal sea of the Russian Federation,” said Vladimir Putin in a 2022 videoconference, barely suppressing a smile. “That’s a serious thing. Peter the Great fought to gain access to the Sea of Azov.”

According to the Russian president, this was among the key outcomes of the broader military campaign in Ukraine, then entering its tenth month.

One of the strategic results was gaining access to two previously Ukrainian commercial ports — one in the heavily damaged city of Mariupol, and another in Berdiansk. Now under Russian control, both ports have been utilized to export grain and other commodities for Russia’s benefit.

However, an investigation by OCCRP’s Ukrainian member center, Slidstvo.Info, has uncovered evidence suggesting that some of these exports may involve Western-linked entities. A company operating under the name of a Danish-based firm has overseen the inspection and certification of at least 170,000 tons of grain shipped through the Berdiansk port over the past 18 months.

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The Danish company, Baltic Control, is a global player in cargo inspection. Founded in 1980 to serve agricultural trade between Scandinavia and the Eastern Bloc, it now operates globally. In 2023, it was acquired by the French multinational Apave Group.

While Russian corporate records do not show direct ownership by Baltic Control in the Russian entity working at Berdiansk — known as “Baltic Control Novorossiysk” — archival materials suggest strong historical and operational ties.

As of October 2022, several months after the escalation of hostilities, Baltic Control still listed a Novorossiysk office on its website. (The listing has since been removed.) The company’s 2021/2022 annual report named “Baltic Control Novorossiysk” as a related entity. A Baltic Control employee also confirmed to undercover reporters that the Novorossiysk office remained operational.

Ownership records show that the Russian entity has been led by Alexander Shalimov since 2013. Though in 2014 a minority share was transferred to a relative, Shalimov remains the principal stakeholder. He also co-owned another identically named company with Baltic Control founder Hugo Pedersen until 2023.

Ukrainian authorities have long argued that the removal of grain from areas under Russian control constitutes illegal appropriation of resources — a serious violation under international norms. Independent estimates place the losses in the billions.

“Private entities also bear responsibility not to facilitate territorial control or contribute to violations of human rights,” said Kateryna Rashevska, a lawyer with the Regional Center for Human Rights.

Apave Group, Baltic Control, and Hugo Pedersen did not respond to questions from journalists.

Letters from Controlled Berdiansk

The investigation began with nearly three dozen documents obtained by the Ukrainian hacktivist group KibOrg. The letters, dated between March 2024 and May 2025, were exchanged between a Crimean-based agricultural company and another entity in Berdiansk.

They describe grain shipments through the Berdiansk port and instruct the local company to prepare vessels for loading. Nine different ships are mentioned, with over 170,000 tons of grain documented in total. Ships such as the Nadezhda, Sofia, and Leonid Pestrikov appear multiple times.

The vessels’ destinations remain unknown due to disabled AIS tracking — a method often used to mask maritime movements. Some of the ships have been sanctioned by the U.S., while others have been flagged by Ukrainian intelligence for involvement in unauthorized grain exports to countries such as Turkey and Bangladesh.

The letters also specify that an “independent surveying company Baltic Control” must oversee and inspect all loading operations. While they do not mention the company’s location, accompanying documents reveal its legal identity as “Baltic Control Novorossiysk” and name Shalimov as its director.

Traces of Affiliation

On the surface, Baltic Control in Denmark and its Russian counterpart share notable similarities: logos, branding, and services offered. Their websites resemble each other, though neither references the other.

Archived versions of the Danish site from late 2022, however, explicitly listed the Novorossiysk office, with the same contact email (balticcontrol.ops@gmail.com) still used today by the Russian company.

Baltic Control’s 2021/2022 report noted a 49% stake in Baltic Control Novorossiysk. More recent reports have dropped the “related companies” section, possibly due to the company’s acquisition by Apave.

Russian records do not reflect foreign ownership. Shalimov was the sole owner until recently, when he transferred 20% to a relative.

Separately, a company of the same name registered in Yeysk shows historical joint ownership by Shalimov and Pedersen between 2009 and 2023.

“This Is Your Branch”

To clarify the relationship, a reporter called Baltic Control’s Danish office posing as a grain exporter.

“Is the Novorossiysk branch still operating?” they asked.

“Yes, it is,” the employee replied, providing a contact number linked to Alex Shalimov.

When contacted directly, Shalimov confirmed the company’s ability to inspect shipments from Berdiansk, describing it as the only entity with local presence. “You’ll be able to verify the quality throughout loading,” he assured.

Later, when questioned by reporters, Shalimov denied any involvement in Berdiansk and ended the conversation.

He did not reply to follow-up questions in writing.