Ukraine, Britain develop method to prove Russia is selling stolen grain

Taras Vysotskyi, acting Minister of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine, shared the information with NV in an interview.

The system involves conducting a chemical analysis of the grain.

"Back in 2022, we used satellite imagery to show that a ship with obviously stolen grain was leaving, and we communicated with the end consumer through international channels, asking them to refuse and not buy it. But in any case, such evidence is not enough on the basis of satellite images alone. Because Russia also grows a lot of grain," the official said.

"Therefore, only with the help of a very high-precision analysis, comparison of grain samples, even of the same variety, can one prove [the place of origin of the crop]. There are specifics of the region, the soil, that can confirm that this strain can only come from Kherson or Zaporizhzhia, etc. Now we have an idea with the British to launch this laboratory analysis," he added.

According to Vysotskyi, to launch this grain testing procedure, a comparative base was being developed, and Ukraine provided samples taken from different regions. Then it will be possible to take a sample from a particular vessel and prove that the grain is stolen.

Ukraine's goal is to launch the laboratory in August-September.

• According to Ukrainian journalists, occupying Russian forces stole more than 15 million tonnes of grain, of which two-thirds was wheat and one-third was corn and sunflower. The revenue from the sale of this amount of grain over the past two years could exceed $7 billion.