Russia earned at least $1 billion on stolen grain from Ukraine – WSJ

Published Sep 17, 2024

Tridge summary

Russia has stolen nearly one billion dollars worth of grain from occupied Ukraine since 2022 and sold it internationally, including to companies involved in the Russian invasion. The grain's value could reach $6.4 billion. The trade helps Russia offset economic pressure from sanctions. The theft is facilitated by small ships and land exports, with involvement from the Russian state-owned United Shipbuilding Corporation and foreign vessels like the Turkish vessel Usko MFU. Ukraine is investigating a trader who resold stolen grain to an Emirati company, Helios Plus. The investigation was sparked by Helios Plus's export of all remaining grain from a Kupyansk bakery after Russia's seizure in August 2022.
Disclaimer: The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Russia and its accomplices have sold nearly one billion dollars worth of stolen grain in the occupied territories of Ukraine. Since 2022, Russians have managed to occupy some of the most fertile lands in Europe. There, the occupiers either took away crops or bought them for next to nothing, often by force, the Wall Street Journal reports. This “business” has a wide network of clients, which includes the companies responsible for the Russian invasion, as well as a company associated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Crimean businessman Hanaga, who cooperates with Syria and Israel through his company Agro-Fregat LLC, and a company that trades with the UAE. The sale of loot helps Russia cope with the economic pressure of countries that have imposed sanctions. In this way, the loot stolen as a result of the war helps finance the war itself. The exact commercial value of stolen agricultural products is difficult to determine. However, according to Deputy Agriculture Minister ...
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