Russia takes 100,000 tons of grain out of Ukraine - Gaidai

Luhansk Regional Military Administration Head Sergiy Gaidai announced this in his Telegram.

"According to the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, about 100,000 tons of grain were exported from the Luhansk region. Another 30,000 tons were stored in the elevator in Rubizhne which was destroyed in April," he said.

Until February 24, the annual need for grain in the Luhansk region amounted to 60,000 tons, in 2014 it increased to 240,000 tons. However, more than 90% of farmers land was in the north of the region, which the Russians captured in 2022 and where battles continue. These territories provided grain for the entire region until 2014. Now Luhansk is the only region of Ukraine where the sowing did not begin.

"100,000 tons is only proven data. How much is really taken out is unknown. Another 30,000 tons of grain were destroyed in Rubizhne. It amounts to two years of the Luhansk region's need. There is no bread now and won't be any in the near future. Russians leave Ukrainians in the occupied territory on the verge of famine," the Regional Military Head emphasized.

First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Taras Vysotsky said that the Russians stole and took out about 400 thousand tons of grain from the temporarily occupied territories of the Zaporizhzhya, Kherson, Donetsk and Luhansk to Russia. 80-100,000 tons were taken out of each region.

"Such behavior is alarming. After all, there may be a similar situation with a new crop. Then a physical lack of food in these territories can arise... If this continues and not only stocks will be exported, but food left before new harvest, a threat of hunger may become real," said Taras Vysotsky.