Collaborator Saldo convicted in absentia for illegal export of Ukrainian grain

The occupation head of the Kherson region, Volodymyr Saldo, received another absentee verdict from a Ukrainian court for grain theft.

This was reported by Intent with reference to the verdict of the Kherson City Court.

Thus, Saldo was found guilty of a war crime for organizing the seizure of the Kherson Bread Products Plant and the illegal export of thousands of tons of grain.

According to the case materials, after the occupation of part of the Kherson region by the Russians, Saldo headed the “military-civilian administration” created by the occupiers, and since October 2022 he became the so-called “acting governor of the Kherson region”. The court ruled that he personally made decisions to establish control over Ukrainian enterprises and their assets.

One of such objects was the Kherson Bread Products Plant, a joint-stock company. In September 2022, Saldo signed an order to introduce a “temporary administration” at the enterprise, effectively transferring control over it to representatives of the occupation authorities. At that time, more than 30 thousand tons of grain and grain products belonging to various companies were stored on the territory of the plant.

In October 2022, Saldo signed another order – on the so-called “evacuation” of grain crops from Kherson and the right-bank part of the region.

According to the investigation, by order of Volodymyr Saldo, representatives of the occupation administration, together with the Russian military, removed at least 2,859 tons of barley belonging to the companies WESTAGRO TRADE COMMODITIES LTD and LLC “Pyriatynskyi Delicatessen”. The total value of the stolen products is over UAH 14.7 million. After transporting the grain to the left bank, the occupiers disposed of it at their own discretion.

Witnesses during the trial confirmed that after the occupation authorities came to power, the Ukrainian management of the enterprise was removed from management, and the grain began to be prepared for export under the control of armed Russian soldiers. After the liberation of Kherson, the inventory showed a significant shortage of grain stocks.

The court found Saldo guilty and sentenced him to 15 years in prison with confiscation of all property.

Earlier, USM reported that collaborator Saldo would be tried for organizing the export of grain from the occupied Kherson region.