Port-Olya-4

On Aug 14, 2025, the Ukraine launched a long-range drone attack on the port of Olya in the Astrakhan region and sank the 'Port Olya 4' at its anchorage. The accomodation block was struck and gutted, and the vessel sank stern first, with the bow still protruding above the water. Ukraine's General Staff claimed that the ship was loaded with Shahed-type drone components and ammunition from Iran. Olya Port is a key logistic hub for Iranian military supplies to Russia. The crew of the 'Port Olya-4' was reportedly rescued. Thevessel belonged to the shipping company MG-Flot LLC, which had been involved in the transportation of russian military cargo since 2021. Since the start of active russian-Iranian cooperation, the ship has regularly sailed between the Iranian port of Amirabad and the russian port of Olya, located south of Astrakhan in the Volga Delta. The 'Port Olya 4' has beem sanctioned by the USA and is owned by sanctioned entity MG-Flot. Report with photos: https://www.twz.com/air/ukraine-sinks-russian-cargo-ship-in-caspian-sea

On Sep 10, 2024, the USA announced that it was blocking nine vessels for transporting munitions from Iran to Russia. The US has officially accused Iran of transporting munitions to Russia, which were to be deployed in the coming weeks against Ukraine. The US has claimed that many vessels owned by the Russian ship operator MG-FLOT have been transporting munitions, particularly Close Range Ballistic Missiles (CRBMs), from Iran to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine. This concerned the 'Boris Kustodiev', the 'Port Olya 3', 'Port Olya 4' and the 'Kopozitor Rakhmaninov', which have been claimed to regularly transit the Caspian Sea transporting cargo between Russia and Iran. Two Russian shipping companies were also being sanctioned for owning vessels that have been involved in the transport of munitions. The Vafa Wholesale Ltd., along with its vessels 'VCafa' and 'Vafa 1' have been added to the sanctions list. The Vafa Wholesale Ltd. is the owner of a vessel that was used to transport UAV-related equipment from Iran to Russia via the Caspian Sea. Similarly, the shipping company Sea Service Limited Liability Company and its vessels have been blocked for owning a vessel, namely the 'Omskiy 103', which was used for the transport of munitions from Iran to Russia via the Caspian Sea. Other vessels owned by the Sea Service LTd. Liability company that have been blocked were the 'Omskiy 119' and the 'Zakams'.

The 'Port Olya 4' with a cargo corn and barley on board drifted aground amid strong winds in the Volgo-Caspian Sea Canal at canal kilometer 170 in pos. 44 55 21 N, 047 44 29 E and requested assistance in the evening of Dec 10, 2022, from the Marine Rescue Service. Attempts to refloat the ship were unsuccessful, and a water ingress in the engine room occurred. Despite the emergency diesel generator being activated, the list of the vessel increased. The Master reported a violation of the ballast system. Diving work was required to detect the leak and to drain the ship. The diving vessel 'Stolnygrad Yaroslavl' and the icebreaker 'Kapitan Chechkin' provided assistance. A diving inspection was carried out as well as work in the engine room with the cleaning of the emergency exit from oil products for further work by divers, who installed a plug. The 'Stolnygrad Yaroslavl' started pumping water from the engine room. The ship was then refloated and was to be towed to port for repairs. The power supply on the ship has been restored to working condition.