IMAGES SHOW RUSSIAN SHIP, WITH ALLEGEDLY STOLEN UKRAINIAN GRAIN, IN SYRIA: REPORT

IMAGE: Maxar Technoplogies

Mon 30 May 2022:

New satellite imagery shows that a Russian ship carrying grain allegedly stolen from Ukrainian farms has arrived in the Syrian port of Latakia, CNN reports.

The images are provided by Maxar Technologies and show the carrier Matros Pozynich at Latakia on May 27.

According to CNN, the Pozynich is one of three ships that have been loading grain in the Crimean port of Sevastopol since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It was last seen in Sevastopol on May 19 and then tracked along the Turkish coast.

CNN has previously reported that convoys of trucks have been seen carrying grain from farms and silos in southern Ukraine into Crimea. Ukrainian authorities estimated earlier this month that Russian forces in occupied areas had seized more than 400,000 tonnes of grain.

One of these Russian ships has docked in the Syrian port of Latakia, new imagery from @Maxar shows. It’s the second time in four weeks the Matros Pozynich has docked there with what is believed to be stolen grain. https://t.co/XKHg04eX6E pic.twitter.com/wxiVkUGiEV

— Alex Marquardt (@MarquardtA) May 29, 2022

The Matros Pozynich’s sister ship has also loaded grain at Sevastopol in the last two weeks.

Convoys of trucks have been seen carrying grain from farms and silos in the occupied parts of southern Ukraine into Crimea, the peninsula illegally annexed by Russia back in 2014. Ukrainian authorities estimated earlier this month that Russian forces in occupied areas had seized more than 400,000 tons of grain.

The grain thefts are threatening this year’s harvest in Ukraine, one of the world’s most important grain-producing countries.

Among the repercussions of the Russian war, the global food crisis remained an overarching one as both Ukraine and Russia are two global leaders in producing food grains.

Both countries are responsible for at least 30% of total wheat supplies across the world. As the all-out war intensified, Moscow has for over months now blockaded the Ukrainian Black Sea coast, which is a vital export point. The disruption of urgent transit has “generated one of the most severe food and energy crises in recent history,” said G7 Foreign Ministers in a joint statement.

Noting the fragility of the market, Zelenskyy also urged world leaders to appeal to Moscow to open the southern ports. Meanwhile, after discussions with German and French counterparts, Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly agreed to open the Odesa port, provided Moscow is eased “some” sanctions imposed by the West.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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