A court has convicted an LPR minister in absentia for exporting Ukrainian grain to Russia
The Shevchenkivskyi District Court of Kyiv has sentenced in absentia the so-called “Minister of Agriculture of the LNR,” who was accused of illegally exporting Ukrainian grain to Russia. According to the investigation, the defendant facilitated the export of agricultural products from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.
He was found guilty of collaboration and war crimes.
What the investigation established
According to the prosecutor’s office, in 2022, the former head of one of the district state administrations in Luhansk Oblast remained in the occupied territory and joined the Russian Federation’s occupation administration.
In his role as “minister,” he organized the seizure of Ukrainian grain, agricultural machinery, and other agricultural infrastructure.
Law enforcement officials state that through these actions, Russia illegally appropriated assets worth over 3.1 billion hryvnias.
Where was the grain shipped?
According to the Office of the Prosecutor General, agricultural products were transported through the occupied territories of Luhansk and Donetsk regions to Russia, and from there—for export to Syria, Turkey, and Lebanon.
The court also granted civil claims totaling over 3.1 billion hryvnias.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry stated that there is no evidence that the Panormitis vessel was carrying Ukrainian grain.
As a reminder, Israel has called on Ukraine to provide evidence regarding the stolen grain.
In turn, Ukraine is asking Israel to seize the ship carrying the stolen grain, according to the Foreign Ministry.
Later, the ship carrying the stolen Ukrainian grain left Israel.
