Russia plans to steal 1.8 million tons of grain worth $600 million from Ukraine

Russian federation is going to export almost 1.8 million tons of grain from the occupied territories of Ukraine by the end of the year.

About a million tons have probably already been shipped through the seaports in the annexed Crimea.

In general, this will give russian federation the opportunity to receive $600 million, reports the German broadcaster NDR based on russian documents that were seen, as well as an assessment of ship data and satellite images.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, about 20 ships loaded with wheat and other grain left the port of Sevastopol. Most of the shipments were to Syria, Russia or Turkey.

Bills of lading indicate that almost 40 more deliveries from Sevastopol are planned by the end of the year. For the first time, the listings reviewed by NDR show loading dates and the number of upcoming trips.

“This suggests that the russian occupiers have obviously already organized logistical support for future grain theft,” the article says.

Implementation of the planned export will give russian federation the opportunity to receive about $600 million, NDR believes. According to the Ukrainian government, the volume of stolen goods is about a quarter of the total grain harvest in the territories occupied by Russia.

“In response to NDR’s question, the russian embassy said that “it is undeniable that russian federation not only covers its own grain needs, but also satisfies export requests from all corners of the world”, and there is no need for Ukrainian wheat, especially since it “is inferior in quality a russian product,” the journalists note.

The Syrian and Turkish embassies did not respond to NDR’s inquiries.