ARMA will auction the Russian tanker Nika Spirit.

The Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) has received court approval to sell the Russian tanker Nika Spirit instead of seeking a manager. The tanker will be auctioned through the "Prozorro.Sales" platform, reported ARMA head Olena Duma on Monday, November 4.

The Dnipro District Court of Kyiv ruled that the agency can sell the seized Russian asset instead of looking for a manager. The agency has already contacted law enforcement regarding the possibility of changing the mechanism for dealing with seized property.

“Previously, this asset was handed over to ARMA for management by court decision. During the war, it is advisable to focus on the sale of high-value seized assets, such as the Nika Spirit tanker, rather than seeking managers. This approach allows for quicker replenishment of the state budget with funds that can be directed towards defense needs,” stated Olena Duma.

The sale of the tanker will take place on the "Prozorro.Sales" platform. Soon, ARMA will conduct a competition for the organizer of the sale. Additionally, an independent appraiser will be selected, and an evaluation of the tanker will be conducted before the auction.

It is noted that the Russian tanker Nika Spirit (formerly Neyma) was detained in July 2019 at the port of Izmail in the Odesa region. The international information system Equasis confirmed that the tanker was used to block the Kerch Strait in November 2018.

Recall that on November 25, 2018, during the passage of Ukrainian Navy vessels from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov, the path under the Kerch (Crimean) Bridge, constructed by Russian occupiers, was obstructed by the Nika Spirit tanker. At that time, three Ukrainian ships were attacked by Russians, who captured 24 sailors. The incident marked the first open case of military aggression by Russia against Ukraine under its own flag since the war began in 2014.