Russia steals Ukrainian grain worth USD 530 million, uses money from sale to fund war - investigation

The Associated Press (AP) published this investigation on its website.

After the statement of the Ukrainian diplomats, Moscow commented on this accusation, calling it "false and baseless". In addition, the Prosecutor General of Lebanon sided with the Kremlin and declared that 10,000 tons of barley and wheat flour were not stolen and allowed the ship to unload.

However, an investigation by The Associated Press and the PBS Frontline investigative documentary program revealed that Laodicea, owned by Syria, is part of a sophisticated Russian-led smuggling operation that has stolen at least USD 530 million worth of Ukrainian grain.

The AP reportedly used satellite imagery and marine radio transponder data to track three dozen ships making more than 50 trips carrying grain from Russian-occupied Ukraine to ports in Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, and elsewhere. Journalists reviewed transport manifests, searched social media posts, and interviewed farmers, shippers, as well as company officials to uncover details of the massive smuggling.