Top Russian official charged with smuggling stolen Ukrainian grain
The Security Service of Ukraine has pressed charges against the head of Rosmorrechflot, the Federal Agency for Maritime and River Transport, Zakhary Dzhioev. From the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the top official ensured the transfer of Russian troops to Ukraine by ferry, and later the export of looted Ukrainian grain, reports the press center of the SBU.
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After the explosion on the Crimean Bridge, Dzhioev ordered the establishment of a ferry crossing from the territory of the Russian Federation to the Ukrainian peninsula. The invaders used it to transport personnel, military equipment, and ammunition to the southern front, and also used ferry routes to take looted Ukrainian grain to Russia.
On the basis of the collected evidence, the SBU charged Dzhioev under Part 5 of Art. 27 and Part 2 of Art. 437 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (planning, preparation, initiation and waging of an aggressive war).
Dzhioev resides in Russia. In Ukraine, he faces up to 15 years in prison.
In the summer of 2022, 87 grain ships with Ukrainian grain stolen by Russia passed through the countries of the Middle East.
In April 2023, law enforcement officials pressed charges against the Russian captain of the ship "M. Andreev" for transporting looted Ukrainian grain via Crimea.
On May 1, 2023, five vessels of the Russian Federation were arrested for transporting stolen Ukrainian grain from Crimea.
According to the estimates of the Ukrainian Grain Association, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Russian Federation has already stolen about 4 million tons of Ukrainian grain and has been trying to sell it abroad.
The G7 countries are developing a way to combat the theft of Ukrainian grain using chemical identification.
