Russians steal over 300 tons of sunflower seeds from occupied territories of Ukraine

The Center for National Resistance reported.

Russian invaders claim they bought this crop from local farmers at very low prices. They intend to ship it to Russia and then to African countries. The “authorities” of the so-called “Luhansk People's Republic” are reportedly seeking cooperation with these African nations.

The сenter noted that similar schemes have been in place since the beginning of the occupation. Russian authorities are forcing farmers to sell their crops to a specific “company” at fixed prices.

The center emphasized that this shipment of crops is not just an economic crime against Ukraine, but also part of a larger strategy to weaken the region's economic stability and use Ukrainian resources to bolster their international standing.

• Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that in 2024, Russia smuggled 180,000 tonnes of stolen Ukrainian grain through the port of temporarily occupied Mariupol.