European shipping companies are continuing to trade with the Russian-annexed region of Crimea despite sanctions, a report has claimed.

The RIA Novosti news agency said owners have various tricks to try to circumvent EU restrictions on calling at the former Ukrainian territory’s ports, citing research from the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).

It claims a total of 99 vessels with European flags have docked in Crimea over the last two years.

Owners