Russia Illegally Taking Out Grain from Temporarily Occupied Territories, Creating Artificial Famine

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine reported on the criminal actions of the Russian Federation which is carrying out the so-called expropriation of crops from farmers in the Kherson region. “This decision of the Legislative Assembly of Russia’s Krasnoyarsk Territory is nothing more than a direct continuation of the criminal policy pursued by the Soviet government responsible for the mass artificial famine in Ukraine in 1921-1923, the Holodomor of 1932-1933, and the mass artificial famine of 1946-1947. Russia follows in the footsteps of Stalinists and Nazis by stealing grain, which the invaders call ‘expropriation’,” the Foreign Ministry noted.

Looting grain from the Kherson region, as well as blocking shipments from Ukrainian ports, and mining the shipping routes jeopardise the world’s food security. In total, Ukraine supplies food to almost 400 million people worldwide, and Ukrainian grain is traditionally exported to Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

The diplomats underscore that Russia is actually robbing Ukraine and consumers abroad through its actions. The United Nations estimates that about 1.7 billion people may face poverty and hunger due to food disruptions as a result of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. In addition, Russia continues to deliberately block the sowing campaign in Ukraine, destroying agricultural machinery and launching missile strikes throughout the country.

“The criminal export of Ukrainian grain is another evidence of Russia’s destructive actions, which, in particular, violate the core principles of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) – ensuring food security and overcoming hunger. Such a policy pursued by the aggressor state calls into question the expediency of its membership in FAO and other international organisations,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine stated.

Ukraine demands that Russia stop the illegal theft of grain, unblock Ukrainian ports, restore freedom of navigation, and permit merchant ships free passage. “We call on the international community to strengthen economic sanctions in order to stop Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine, prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and deterioration of the global food security situation,” the Ukrainian diplomats pointed out in their statement.

Natalia Tolub