Millions of tons under cover: how Russians sell stolen grain from Ukraine
Russian on paper, but Ukrainian in reality: the scheme for selling grain from the occupied territories
During 2023–2024, the Russian company “Nika” organized a mass removal of grain from the occupied Mariupol. According to journalists of “Slidstvo.Info“, more than 54 thousand tonnes of wheat were exported during that time, which were sent to Turkey and other countries.
The key scheme involved concealing the true origin of the grain. On paper the products were registered as Russian, although the declarations indicated that the production facilities were located in the occupied Ukrainian city. Part of the cargoes were first delivered to the Russian port of Temryuk, where documents were altered, and only then sent abroad. Such “legalization” allowed them to bypass controls and sell effectively stolen Ukrainian grain on the international market. In particular, one of the shipments of nearly 7.9 thousand tonnes was delivered to the Turkish company Erisler, which is a large flour producer and cooperates with international programs, including the UN World Food Programme.
Journalists also established a link between this business and weapons production: the owners of “Nika” are connected to a company that manufactures drones for the Russian army. Thus, money from the sale of Ukrainian grain can directly fuel the war against Ukraine.
According to Ukrainian intelligence and international media, the total volume of grain stolen by Russia since 2022 reaches tens of millions of tonnes. In 2025 alone — over 2 million tonnes. Despite official statements about preventing trade in such grain, the scheme continues to operate, changing routes and intermediaries. It is effectively a systemic export of looted resources from the occupied territories of Ukraine.
Previously we wrote:
- Moscow stole more than 4 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain
- Ship from Russia’s “shadow fleet” detained: it was exporting grain from occupied Crimea via the Black Sea
- “Nibulon” demands: unblocking the ports of Mykolaiv and Kherson — a key condition of the future agreement
- Over 50 attacks on Ukrainian ports: among the Russian targets — the ports “Olvia” and “Nika-Tera”
- From oil to grain: Russia dreams of becoming the agricultural monster of the world
