Ukraine has blocked russia's membership in the IMO Council for 2026-2027: Ministry for Communities and Territories Development

Ukraine has blocked russia's membership in the Council of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for 2026-2027. This is the result of systematic work by the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure global maritime safety. On 28 November 2025, during the 34th Assembly of the IMO in London, elections were held to the governing body of the institution — the IMO Council. According to the results of the vote, russia was not elected to Category A, which includes states with the greatest interest in providing international shipping services.

"russia's failure to be elected to the IMO Council is a victory for international law. The community has clearly shown the aggressor its place — outside the boundaries of civilised democratic decision-making. A country that systematically attacks ports, kills civilian sailors and blackmails the world with hunger has no moral right to manage global shipping safety.

This is an important signal: the world sees the crimes of the russian federation, sees the threat from its ‘shadow fleet’ and is no longer willing to turn a blind eye to it. I am grateful to our partners for their principled position. Together, we continue to work to ensure that russian maritime terror is stopped and that Ukrainian ports remain a guarantor of global food security," said Deputy Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine — Minister for Communities and Territories Development Oleksii Kuleba.

This decision was the result of systematic work by the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. In particular, the Ukrainian delegation working on the sidelines of the 34th IMO Assembly, represented by First Deputy Minister Aliona Shkrum and Deputy Minister Andrii Kashuba from the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development. During the Assembly, the Ukrainian side presented to the member states a detailed argumentation regarding the incompatibility of russia's actions with the principles of international maritime law and its status as a member of the Council.

russia is systematically destroying civilian maritime infrastructure and threatening global shipping safety. Since the beginning of 2025 alone, 384 port infrastructure facilities and 124 ships have been damaged or partially destroyed, and 136 civilians and sailors have been killed.

Despite this, six Ukrainian ports continue to operate, ensuring the uninterrupted export of grain and other essential goods to world markets, even under constant attack.

In addition, russia has continued its illegal occupation of five Ukrainian ports in Crimea since 2014, two ports in the Sea of Azov and one in the Black Sea. At the same time, three seaports have been unable to operate safely for three years in a row due to the threat posed by russia in the Black Sea. This blocks freedom of navigation through the Kerch Strait.

russia continues to operate a huge ‘shadow fleet.’ These are old and uninsured vessels used to evade sanctions and finance the war against Ukraine. 1,500 tankers are involved in the trade of russian oil and pose an environmental hazard.

russia's failure to be elected to the IMO Council demonstrates the international community's support for Ukraine's position and its commitment to the principles of the rule of law at sea. The Ministry for Communities and Territories Development continues to work to ensure that the aggressor is held accountable for crimes against port infrastructure and the environment.