Since 2022, Russia and its partners have made nearly one billion dollars by selling grain stolen from Ukraine’s occupied territories. This operation, detailed by The Wall Street Journal, involves a wide network of clients, including firms linked to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, and Crimean businessman Mykhailo Hanaga, who trades with Syria, Israel, and the UAE through his company Agro-Fregat LLC.

In the first half of 2024, Russia shipped 15 vessels carrying 81,000 tonnes of stolen Ukrainian wheat from Mariupol to Türkiye. While Turkish authorities claim to be cooperating with Kyiv to block these illegal shipments, the full scope of the operation remains elusive. Ukrainian officials estimate that 4 million tonnes of grain have been sold on global markets since 2022, with a value of approximately $800 million.

This illicit trade helps Russia offset the economic pressure of international sanctions, directly supporting its war effort. The stolen goods are often transported by small ships or land routes, with the total value of the grain theft possibly reaching $6.4 billion.

Several foreign entities have been implicated in facilitating the illegal grain trade. Notably, the Russian state-owned United Shipbuilding Corporation, a producer of warships, has been involved through a network of corporate entities. Furthermore, a Russian company selling grain from Zaporizhzhia Oblast made a significant donation of $111,000 to a Russian battalion.

Efforts to monitor and block these operations have faced challenges. Ukrainian authorities are investigating the Turkish vessel Usko MFU, which was allegedly involved in transporting stolen grain. This vessel carried 2,100 tonnes of wheat and sunflower seeds to Türkiye in 2023, with a value of half a million dollars. Investigators discovered instructions for the ship’s captain to hide the cargo’s Crimean origin.

While countries like Egypt, Israel, and Lebanon have ceased purchasing Crimean grain, markets such as Iran and Yemen continue to buy it. Tehran, for instance, is acquiring barley from Crimea at a 34% discount.

As Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s grain infrastructure continue, including strikes on Odesa’s port facilities, Ukraine has sustained heavy losses, with agricultural equipment and products valued at $500 million destroyed. Despite these setbacks, the international community continues efforts to curtail Russia’s illegal trade and alleviate its impact on global markets.

Más información en Ukrainska Pravda.