A professor from Mykolaiv fined for attempting to take ship documentation to China

The Central District Court of Mykolaiv fined a professor UAH 34,000 for violating the procedures governing the international transfer of goods subject to state export control. The case concerns an attempt to take technical documentation for an air-cushion vessel out of Ukraine for subsequent transfer to China.

The defendant is head of the Department of Marine Technologies and Ocean Engineering at the Admiral Makarov National University of Shipbuilding. Details of the case are set out in the ruling published in the Unified State Register of Court Decisions (reyestr.court.gov.ua).

According to the case file, the man planned to take abroad documentation on the design and construction of the ACV-20REES vessel for subsequent transfer to the People’s Republic of China. To move it without a permit from the State Service of Export Control of Ukraine, he saved the materials to his personal Acer laptop.

On July 3, 2026, the man and his wife arrived at the “Starokozache–Tudora” checkpoint. During a customs inspection of their belongings, technical information was found on the computer and confiscated.

Later, experts from the Central Research Institute of Armaments and Military Equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine determined that the documentation concerned dual-use goods. Therefore, its international transfer required permits, which the man did not have.

During the trial, the defendant confirmed the circumstances of the case. He explained that he had planned to travel with his wife to China, where their children live, and asked the court not to impose a severe punishment.

In determining the sentence, the court took into account:

• the man had no prior convictions;
• a positive reference from his workplace;
• his Doctor of Technical Sciences degree and academic title of professor;
• his full admission of guilt, sincere remorse, and assistance in solving the crime, which were recognized as mitigating circumstances.

The court found no aggravating circumstances. The man was found guilty under Part 1 of Article 333 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine—violating the established procedure for international transfers of goods subject to state export control.

The court separately ordered that the confiscated electronic devices and documentation be returned to their owner once the seizure imposed on them is lifted.

We previously reported:

• Attempt to take shipbuilding designs abroad: researcher to stand trial in Mykolaiv region
• SBU in Mykolaiv region blocks illegal export of parts for military transport aircraft
• SBU prevents Mykolaiv company from exporting military ship components abroad
• Mykolaiv businessmen attempt to export military equipment to Russia
• Mykolaiv company supplied designers and engineers to develop ships for the aggressor state, Russia