Russia ships over 850,000 tonnes of stolen grain, Ukraine to target shadow fleet – Sybiha
Ukraine will step up efforts to counter Russia’s shadow grain fleet by initiating new sanctions in the European Union, G7 countries and other jurisdictions against all those involved in stealing Ukrainian grain from the occupied territories and illegally trading it, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha has said.
"We will be working with partners to update relevant lists and ensure targeted and severe restrictions," Sybiha said on X on Wednesday.
He said that, according to available data, in the period from January to April 2026 alone, 25 vessels of Russia’s grain fleet carried out about 50 direct voyages from closed Ukrainian ports in the temporarily occupied territories to ports in third countries.
"During this period, over 850.000 tonnes of grain were exported from the occupied territories of Ukraine. More than 50% of this total was illegally transported from a single closed port in the city of Sevastopol. An additional 13% of the total volume was shipped from the Azov Sea ports of Mariupol and Berdiansk," the minister said.
According to Sybiha, Ukraine has information about these vessels, companies, owners and other details, as well as about how Russia is trying to evade responsibility by switching off transponders, falsifying coordinates and carrying out ship-to-ship transfers to conceal the illegal sale of stolen Ukrainian grain.
"We will not let this pass… We will go after Russia’s shadow grain fleet and its enablers across all geographies," the minister stressed.
He also said Ukraine has a painful historical experience related to the theft of grain.
"Our nation has experienced a genocide by hunger, the Holodomor, in which grain was taken away from our people. We warn all entities and nations that we will react strongly to any theft of our grain," Sybiha said.
