Captain without a diploma and on methadone: who supplies oil from Russia to allied countries

The so-called "shadow fleet" has for several years been almost the only source for Russia to receive enormous profits from trading gas and oil. Thanks to the constant circulation of more than a thousand tankers, the Kremlin is able to bypass sanctions and receive money to wage a war of attrition against Ukraine, as well as to carry out hybrid attacks against EU and NATO member states.

Crews of vessels belonging to Russia’s global-level scheme constantly resort to violations of international maritime law: switching off AIS systems to prevent tracking of movements, carrying out ship-to-ship transfers in open sea to conceal the origin of oil and its products while ignoring ecological risks. Some ships constantly change flags and ownership to disguise their affiliation with Moscow. Most tankers of the "shadow fleet" are openly outdated and pose serious accident risks. At the same time, the insurance companies that provide them with services are often fictitious.

However, there are other examples. Some tankers are brand new and modern. One of these is the "Valentin Pikul" (IMO: 9885879), which belongs to a subsidiary of "Rosneft," and is almost the flagship of the joint stock company "Rosnefteflot." This vessel, with a huge deadweight of 69,000 tons, was put into operation only in January 2025. It sails along the so-called Northern Sea Route – from the Murmansk transport hub to the Far East – and supplies oil and its products primarily to China.

The editorial office of Channel 24 received an email dump and a phone image of the tanker "Valentin Pikul" captain Anatoliy Gushchin from the private intelligence company Dallas. How a man not yet under sanctions, with drug and alcohol addictions, buys certificates of qualification courses, uses the services of call girls, and why South Korea may face a lot of problems because of cooperation with Russians – read in this material.

How Seoul Shot Itself in the Foot by Building a Tanker

To fully reveal the story of the launch of one of the newest tankers of the Russian fleet, it is worth paying attention to how it was built. The fact is that when Moscow in the 2010s seriously thought about developing tanker traffic through the Arctic Ocean and expanding resource extraction in the north, it already could not build quality vessels of the required classes. Therefore, the Kremlin involved the South Korean company

Heavy Industries, whose specialists took part in the work on the tanker at practically all levels until the start of the full-scale invasion and the introduction of serious sanctions against Russia.

Documents showing Samsung Heavy Industries’ participation in the construction of the tanker "Valentin Pikul"

According to retired Navy Captain 1st Rank of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Andriy Ryzhenko, the documents show that during such cooperation the Kremlin received confidential blueprints and serious technologies to such an extent that after Koreans withdrawal from the project, the Russians were still able to complete the "Valentin Pikul."

The last documentary mention of Samsung Heavy Industries representatives’ participation in the project is dated February 28, 2022 – four days after the start of the full-scale war, when sanctions had not yet taken effect.

Cooperation of Russians with Koreans on the "Valentin Pikul" lasted at least until February 28, 2022 / Screenshot from the tanker captain’s email dump

When the Russians signed the contract with the Koreans, there were no such strict restrictions. Most likely, under the terms of the agreement, the Koreans had to hand over to the Russians all the blueprints related to the project. So it is not excluded that now the Russians will try both to pass access to South Korean technologies to allies, and in general to try to replicate the construction of tankers modeled after the "Pikul." How will it turn out? Hard to say. Replacing engines from world leaders, hydraulic pumps, electronics and communication nodes is unlikely for them. However, allied countries may well provide what they need,
– Ryzhenko noted.

Even a superficial analysis of the captain’s data dump makes it clear that neither representatives of "Zvezda," nor "Rosnefteflot," etc., comply with the terms of cooperation with Samsung Heavy Industries. Officials of various Russian companies repeatedly forwarded documents marked fully confidential to people who should definitely not have access to such information. Moreover, there are reasonable suspicions that the Russians may transfer blueprints to China. Specifically, to adapt certain solutions and accelerate Beijing’s Arctic development, which directly contradicts the national interests of South Korea’s closest ally – the United States.

See the photos of documents related to the Samsung AST69K project, whose security Russians deliberately neglect (Channel 24 editorial publishes only part of the documentation with blur to maintain confidentiality):

Taking into account the fact that the Kremlin actively transfers military technologies to Pyongyang, and also finances this thanks in part to the "Valentin Pikul," an obvious conclusion can be drawn: Seoul’s cooperation with Moscow, which lasted until sanctions were imposed, now directly harms South Korea’s security. So every country that does business with Russians must understand that this will inevitably have negative consequences, since Russia’s policy is aimed at undermining global security.

How a vodka-and-methadone enthusiast drank away his captaincy and then took command of the flagship of "Rosnefteflot"?

Despite being on sanctions lists, "Pikul" regularly visits ports of russia’s allies, and all processes on the vessel are overseen by its captain, Anatoliy Gushchin (passport No. 4022 399910, issued on 13.03.2023 by the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of russia for Saint Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast).

Gushchin’s passport / Photo provided by the private intelligence company Dallas

This seaman, without any doubt, is an example of what kind of professional one should not be. An analysis of this “old salt” can clearly demonstrate how dangerous the russian fleet is in principle for navigation: due to total incompetence, a passion for alcohol and drugs, and a negligent attitude to work.

To understand Gushchin’s psychotype, it’s worth “walking through” some facts of his biography. The 47-year-old captain has been married twice and has a 20-year-old daughter from his first marriage. Both of the sailor’s family unions fell apart because of his addiction to alcohol and women.

He divorced his first wife, Vira Gushchina, in 2015 and immediately went to his mistress, Nataliya Borisova (now Gushchina), whom he later married. However, the couple’s relationship could hardly be called strong, since the captain was constantly on business trips, and when he returned home—he drank. In almost every city he visited, he used the services of prostitutes.

Before the start of the full-scale invasion, Gushchin was the captain of the Sovcomflot tanker "Timofey Guzhenko". From July to November 2021, in this same company, he headed the crew of the LNG tanker Mitre. Formally, this vessel belonged to a russian company, but it sailed under the Liberian flag. In fact, even then, long before serious sanctions, the so-called “russian shadow fleet” was already taking shape.

Gushchin’s next place of employment was LLC "Sovcomflot Varandey", where the captain was tolerated for less than half a year. He failed to show up for work due to constant binges, missed voyages, and later disappeared altogether for several months. He was even put on a wanted list.

Part of the correspondence with his first wife after dismissal from "SCF Varandey" / Photo provided by the private intelligence company Dallas

After a short (and not very successful) treatment, Gushchin briefly got a job at the Federal State Unitary Enterprise "Hydrographic Enterprise", which belongs to Rosatom. However, he worked there for a very short time, and already in November 2023 he became the captain of the ship Sable (IMO 9524451), which belonged to Prominent Shipmanagement Limited of Panama. The vessel is currently named SABINA and is registered in the Comoros.

The adventures of Sable under Gushchin’s command can be called absolutely typical for any vessels of the “shadow fleet”: including passages to China, India, Myanmar and other states that buy russian oil, and likely participation in reconnaissance operations near naval infrastructure, undersea cables, and other critical facilities of NATO countries.

In communication with numerous escorts, the captain did not hide the nature of his activities at all.

I transport oil from the rf (c) / Screenshot from Gushchin’s Samsung SM-G980F

However, a much more interesting fact is that the captain did not have sufficient qualifications to safely operate tankers. To confirm their knowledge and skills, sailors are required to pass numerous tests. Gushchin constantly used the services of a company that offers to take exams on his behalf.

Moreover, what are we even talking about if the captain also forged drug test data. During an unannounced inspection, traces of methadone use were found in him and two other crew members of "Valentin Pikul".

A drug-addicted captain / Photo provided by the private intelligence agency Dallas

In an explanatory note, Gushchin stated that, as prescribed by a doctor, he rubbed his leg with anti-inflammatory and analgesic gels, which allegedly led to an error in the test. Whether the captain managed to convince the management with such arguments is unknown. However, he was not removed from his position, and "Valentin Pikul" still sails the Northern Sea Route under the command of a drug addict.

Only one drug addict in the world knows about the magical effects of combining two gels / Photo provided by the private intelligence company Dallas

It is not known exactly how the 3rd mate Anton Velikorechin and 3rd mechanic Dmitry Borzov explained their failed tests. However, the first sailor could have used drugs during joint parties with Guschin. At least the correspondence between these two characters on WhatsApp directly indicates that the men on the flight had some pretty wild nights. The captain sent his mate erotic selfies, invited him to the cabin, the galley and other rooms where he could be alone.

Captain-mentor Gushchin. Rear view / Photo from the correspondence between the captain and his mate, Anton Velikorechin, provided by the private intelligence company Dallas

A captain in search of spirituality and prostitutes

In his off-hours, Mykhailo Gushchin does not like to entertain himself with men. Instead, he prefers to spend time with his current flame, Yuliya Volodymyrivna Osokina, head of the "Podsolnukh" studio of musical development and vocals.

Osokina on a walk with Gushchin / Photo provided by the private intelligence company Dallas

It can be said that the partnership between the singing instructor and the captain of "Valentin Pikul" is quite close, since the sailor even listed the woman as a possible driver of his Nissan Qashqai with license plate A604NM198.

When Osokina is not around, the captain summons escorts to his apartment No. 288 at 51 Optikov Street, Building 1.

A typical screenshot of Gushchin’s chats against what is likely Osokina’s Stories background / Photo provided by the private intelligence company Dallas

With women of easy virtue, the captain not only sleeps, but also shares details of his life and work. In short, an “ideal custodian” of state and corporate secrets.

To one of the escorts, Gushchin either accidentally or deliberately sent a list of top managers of "Rosnefteflot".

See the document with the list of "Rosnefteflot" top executives / Source: correspondence between Mykhailo Gushchin and an escort:

A little later, to this same prostitute, in a dialogue about his management, Gushchin sent another file—with addresses and phone numbers of employees of the Saint Petersburg branch of "Rosnefteflot". Judging by the nature of the correspondence, in this way the captain helped the woman expand her client base.

See the document with the list of employees of the Saint Petersburg branch of "Rosnefteflot":

It is telling that this file on Gushchin’s Samsung SM-G980F lies next to another document—the "Rosnefteflot" cybersecurity manual.

Cybersecurity matters / Photo provided by the private intelligence company Dallas

For the most part, however, Gushchin’s conversations with lovers and escorts boil down to household topics, sex, and photography. Moreover, the captain “collects” images with women on his phone, sometimes photographing them even while they sleep.

See photos with lovers and escorts that the captain of "Valentin Pikul" keeps on his phone (18+):

In parallel with debauchery, the sailor is trying to find himself in this world. He is a member of various communities dedicated to the fight against alcoholism and enlightenment, has his own guru, and even “on a regular basis has a conscious contact with a higher power.”

Enlightenment for Gushchin comes, perhaps, only after taking methadone / Photo provided by the private intelligence company Dallas.

A russian fleet staffed with people like Gushchin is extremely dangerous for the entire world

In conclusion, it can be noted that one of the largest russian companies trading in oil and its products not only participates in violating sanctions, but also has a de facto new flagship in its fleet with a captain who suffers from various addictions. Moreover, his competence as a seaman remains in huge doubt. How widespread is fake test-taking for professional suitability in russia? It is hard to answer. If such giants as the "daughter" of "Rosneft" calmly hire characters who are unable to pass drug tests, whose biographies include alcohol addiction and disappearing from work without any warning for half a year… the situation looks utterly bleak.

It is no surprise that such characters then carry out sabotage or “accidentally” cut undersea cables at the behest of russian special services. Even without taking into account the openly subversive and reconnaissance work, the russian merchant fleet is dangerous for literally the whole world. After all, where is the guarantee that this or that tanker or bulker will not create an emergency situation in some strait or port? While its captain is intoxicated with drugs together with his mate. Therefore, countries that continue to buy oil from russia and let its ships into their territorial waters take considerable risks—for the environment and for economic losses in the event of an accident.

However, the lion’s share of captains and crew members of russian tankers are not under sanctions, while the ships of the “shadow fleet” change flags and names, trying to slip out from under restrictions. And the Kremlin’s ally countries continue, without hindrance and without fearing the consequences, to pump the moscow budget with petrodollars.