Home / Crime and Justice / Yacht Smugglers Busted: Two Ukrainians Charged in Migrant Trafficking Sting
Yacht Smugglers Busted: Two Ukrainians Charged in Migrant Trafficking Sting
28 Aug
Summary
- Two Ukrainian nationals charged with smuggling migrants into UK
- Migrants intercepted on yacht off Isle of Wight in July 2025
- Four migrants, including three Albanians and a Vietnamese woman, handed over to authorities
On July 20, 2025, authorities in the UK intercepted a yacht off the coast of the Isle of Wight in an operation involving the National Crime Agency (NCA), Border Force, and French law enforcement. The operation led to the arrest of two Ukrainian nationals, Vladyslav Cherniavskyi, 37, and Oleksandr Yavtushenko, 43, who have been charged with facilitating illegal immigration.
The four migrants found on the yacht, three Albanian males and a Vietnamese female, were handed over to the immigration authorities. The two Ukrainian suspects appeared at the Portsmouth Crown Court on August 28, 2025, and the hearing was adjourned until October 3, with a trial date set for January 12, 2026. Judge David Melville KC ordered the defendants to be remanded in custody.
This incident highlights the ongoing efforts by UK authorities to crack down on transnational smuggling networks and prevent the illegal entry of migrants into the country. The charges against the Ukrainian nationals serve as a warning to those involved in such activities, as the government remains vigilant in its pursuit of justice and the protection of its borders.
