Wheat from Ukraine: Looting as a policy

In a country affected by war, it is usual to restricted exports in order to cover the needs of the population. Ukraine is special, as the country covers a part of world food supply. However, within Ukraine itself, local shortages of wheat and gas have been identified. Therefore, it is crucial to control the flows of such goods in order to protect the population while guaranteeing global food stability.

A much needed deal in the face of a world food crisis

Worries have been rising everywhere about a world food crisis due to the Ukraine export blockade. In Africa, Senegal’s head of state Macky Sall, met with Vladimir Putin, to voice concerns about the outcomes of the Ukraine war and its effects on food markets in his country.

Ukraine and Russia, finally signed deals for the creation of a food corridor through the Black Sea, with Turkey as a mediator. The plan under which these agreements were signed is dubbed the Black Sea Initiative.

It seems that the Ukrainian local authorities were indeed not able to completely control exports. On May 24 reports from the Luhasnk Oblast indicated that people in the town of Stanytsia Luhanska have complained about the lack of fuel at gas stations and about Russian substandard food.
This meant that due to the war, the Ukrainian authorities were not able to fulfill the two separate goals of taking care of the population and avoiding a world food crisis.

Starvation as a method of warfare

It appears that Russia is taking advantage of the situation by organizing the export of the goods urgently needed by civilians and redirecting it to the destinations it has an interest in. This could be regarded as starvation as a method of warfare. Using starvation of civilians as a method of combat is prohibited by the Geneva Convention (1977 additional protocols) as well as by the Russian Federation’s Military Manual.

Grain is first moved to the ports of Crimea (Kerch, Sevastopol, Feodosia), occupied by Russia. There, the grains are loaded on dry cargo ships. Based on the size and number of ships departing from Crimea, it seems the quantity exported is very important. On May 21 alone, 2 large ships have departed from Crimea. On May 23 an additional vessel left Crimea.

The destination of many vessels is Syria. This could mean that Russia is trying to support its Syrian ally and guarantee stability there, to the detriment of the Ukrainian population.

Evidence Russia is conducting illegal traffic

Below, you can see the pictures of the vessels exporting wheat out of Ukraine. I received these pictures from a personal contact located in Ukraine. I will try to get more first-hand information on what is happening there in the near future and offer analysis for my readers.

The dry cargo ship “Mikhail Nenashev”, departed on May 21. The vessel returned to Sevastopol after delivering grain to a Syrian port.

The dry cargo “Souria” left on May 21. The vessel made a return voyage to the port of Feodosia after delivering wheat at the port of Iskanderun (Turkey).

The dry cargo ship “Matros Pozynich” departed on May 23 and headed for Syria to deliver grain there.