Russia Purposefully Embezzles Ukrainian Grain and Orchestrates Famine

Global Rights Compliance has released a new report titled "Transforming Agriculture into Weapons," revealing evidence that Russia systematically planned the embezzlement of Ukrainian grain and the "starvation siege".

This is stated in the Global Rights Compliance report.

"The highly systematized transformation of Ukrainian grain into weapons, documented by us, is unprecedented in modern history and involves extremely complex preplanning. It is deliberately aimed at depriving the civilian population of third countries of food," said Catriona Murdoch, partner and portfolio manager for hunger issues at Global Rights Compliance.

According to researchers, Russia planned to steal about 12 thousand tons of grain per day, with a total value of one billion dollars per year. It is also emphasized that planning took place on 'unprecedented scales' and began long before February 24, 2022.

Russia pursues two goals - financing the war through stolen grain and blackmailing the international community with the threat of hunger.

"Russia does this to finance its illegal war, seek the easing of sanctions on the world stage, buy votes at international forums, and present itself as the legitimate authority in Ukrainian territory, which, in turn, weakens the national economy of Ukraine," added Murdoch.

The report also notes that international experts consider such actions as the 'transformation of grain into weapons,' as Russia restricts the supply of cereals to countries without permanent alternative sources of agricultural production revenue.

It is expected that the report will serve as evidence for a new case in the International Criminal Court regarding another war crime committed by Russia - 'starvation siege.'

With the start of the full-scale invasion in winter 2022, Russia deliberately blocked the export of grain from Ukrainian ports. Later, having achieved a series of concessions, the Kremlin agreed to partially lift the illegal blockade through the so-called 'green corridors.'

A year later, in July 2023, Russia officially announced its withdrawal from the grain agreement. After this, massive rocket and drone attacks on Ukrainian port cities began.

As of September 2023, Russia has destroyed at least 280 thousand tons of Ukrainian grain.

Additionally, according to a report from the United States Congress, in 2022 alone, Russia stole nearly six million tons of Ukrainian wheat harvested in the occupied territories.