Russia sells stolen Ukrainian grain worth $1 billion – WSJ

Since 2022, Russia and its allies have sold grain stolen from occupied Ukrainian territories for nearly $1 billion, reported The Wall Street Journal.

This illegal business involves a wide network of Russian partners, including companies linked to firms responsible for the Russian invasion and Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps. A Crimean businessman is also involved in this scheme, whose company Agro-Fregat LLC cooperates with Syria, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates.

In the first half of 2024, Russian vessels delivered 15 ships with 81,000 tons of wheat from Mariupol to Turkey. Turkish authorities say they have banned ships from entering occupied Ukrainian ports and are cooperating with Ukraine to stop this illegal trade.

It's difficult to estimate the exact value of the stolen grain, but according to Ukraine’s deputy agriculture minister, Markiyan Dmytrasevych, over 4 million tons of grain worth about $800 million have been sold from occupied territories.

The sale of stolen grain helps Russia mitigate the effects of international sanctions and finance military operations against Ukraine. Journalists estimate the total value of stolen grain could reach $6.4 billion.

Russian state companies also play a significant role in the scheme. For instance, three ships exporting large volumes of stolen grain belong to the Russian United Shipbuilding Corporation, which also produces warships for attacks on Ukraine. One Russian company operating in the occupied part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast even donated $111,000 to an occupation battalion.

Foreign vessels are sometimes involved in transporting stolen grain. In June, Ukrainian prosecutor Ihor Ponochovnyi began an investigation into the Turkish vessel Usko MFU, suspected of transporting stolen grain from Sevastopol in 2023.

Crimean grain continues to find buyers in countries like Yemen and Iran. For instance, Iran secures barley from Crimea at a notable discount of $140 per ton, which is 34% lower than the market rate. However, after learning about the grain's origin, countries like Egypt, Israel, and Lebanon have stopped purchasing, as noted by the publication.