Ukraine’s Security Service (SSU) has charged Russia’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture with war crimes for orchestrating the theft of over 4 million tons of Ukrainian grain worth 23 billion UAH. The SSU alleges the stolen grain was exported via Crimea to countries including Syria and Turkey, violating international law during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
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Ukraine’s Security Service (SSU) has charged the Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation with a war crime for organizing the theft of more than 4 million tons of Ukrainian grain from occupied territories.
According to investigators, between the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion and December 31, 2023, the official acted in collusion with senior Russian leaders and occupation authorities in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions. Together, they allegedly seized assets from both state and private Ukrainian agricultural companies, according to a press release from the Ukraine Prosecutor’s Office.
Among the affected enterprises are NIBULON, TESSLAGROUP, KERNEL-TRADE, and the State Food and Grain Corporation of Ukraine. The total value of the stolen grain exceeds 23 billion UAH.
Investigators say the grain was sent to Russia and occupied Crimea, then exported by sea as supposedly Russian goods to Syria, Egypt, Turkey, Lebanon, and other countries. The SSU stressed that the actions had no military justification and violated international humanitarian law.
The Deputy Minister has been formally notified of suspicion under Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (violation of the laws and customs of war), which carries a penalty of 8 to 12 years in prison.
The case is being investigated by the Main Investigative Department of the SSU, with operational support from other service units. Earlier, Ukraine also charged the Russian Minister of Agriculture and another senior official from the ministry. The search for additional suspects continues.
Under Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court.
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