According to satellite images of Sevastopol, the Crimean port of Sevastopol, Russia appears to be increasing its theft of Ukrainian grain as it continues its war against the country.
In the photos, two Russian-flagged bulk carriers are seen docking and loading with what is believed be stolen Ukrainian grain. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, has accused Russia "gradually stealing" Ukrainian food products. He also tried to sell them.
Maxar Technologies has released new images dated May 19-21. They show two ships, the Matros Pozynich (right) and the Matros Koshka (left), docked near what appears to be silos that have grain flowing off of a belt into a hold. According to MarineTraffic.com ship tracking site, both ships have left the port. The Matros Pozynich is currently sailing through the Aegean Sea, claiming that it is on its way towards Beirut, while the Matros Koshka remains in the Black Sea.
Although it is difficult to determine if the ship was loaded with stolen Ukrainian grain from Ukraine, Russia-annexed Crimea does not produce any grain. This contrasts with the rich agricultural regions of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, which are located to the north. According to industry sources and officials from Ukraine, Russian forces have taken grain out of silos in the occupied territories and transported it south.
The Matros Pozynich, a vessel carrying similar cargo, carried out an identical mission earlier this month: it loaded up with grain and set sail from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. According to the government of Ukraine, it was originally bound for Egypt with its cargo. However, after receiving a warning from Ukrainian officials, the ship was diverted from Alexandria. It was also denied entry to Beirut and eventually docked in Latakia in Syria, where Russia has been supporting the regime of Bashar al Assad for many years.
Russia is also blocking Ukraine's exports from its ports, fueling fears of a global food shortage.
Zelenskyy stated Saturday that the world community must assist Ukraine in unblocking its seaports. Otherwise, an energy crisis will be followed up by a food shortage and many other countries will have to face it. "Russia has blocked nearly all ports and all maritime opportunities to export food -- our grain barley, sunflower, and many more - so it is impossible to say that Russia has prevented any. There are many things.
CNN reported last week that the United States and its allies were holding talks to develop safe routes to transport grain from Ukraine. This is despite concerns about global food supply. The evidence that Russia is stealing grain complicates these efforts.
According to the U.S. State Department, Ukraine was the fourth-largest global exporter and fifth-largest importer of wheat. The United Nations World Food Program, which aids in combating global food insecurity, buys approximately half its wheat from Ukraine every year. It has warned of serious consequences if Ukrainian ports remain closed.
These ships can carry a total of 30,000 metric tonnes and the Defense Ministry of Ukraine estimated earlier this month that around 400,000 tons of Ukrainian goods had been taken from Ukraine after Russia invaded.
Mykola Solsky is the minister of Agrarian Policy in Ukraine. She said that it was "sent in an organised manner in the direction to Crimea." This is a large business and is overseen by high-ranking officials.
In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea and took with it the important port of Sevastopol in the Black Sea. Russia launched a new invasion in February and has blocked Ukraine's access to two important ports. They have captured Mariupol on the Sea of Azov and targeted and blocked Odessa on the Black Sea. The inability of Ukraine to export from these ports has a devastating effect on the country’s economy and food security.
According to U.S. Secretary Antony Blinken, there are 22 million tons of grain in Ukrainian silos.
"The Russian Federation falsely claims that sanctions by the international community are responsible for the worsening of the global food crisis." Blinken stated that sanctions are not blocking Black Sea ports or trapping food-laden ships, nor are they destroying roads and railways in Ukraine. "Russia is."
Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson, previously called claims Russia stole grain from its neighbor "fake News," according to Russian state news agency TASS.
