Russian-backed parts of southern Ukraine to sell grain to Middle Eastern countries
The planned deals include sales to Iraq, Iran and Saudia Arabia, according to Russian state media
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Russian-backed authorities in parts of southern Ukraine have said they are going to start selling grain abroad, mainly to the Middle East, as part of a new trade agreement.
The planned deals include sales to Iraq, Iran and Saudia Arabia. The head of the Russian-installed administration in the region, Yevgeny Balitsky, is reported to have said that a contract is in place to supply 150,000 tonnes of grain to Iran.
Authorities in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine, which is partially under Russian control, said that they had now reached an agreement to ship grain abroad, Moscow’s state news agency Tass reported.
Ukraine has accused Russia of stealing its grain.
The war in Ukraine has significantly disrupted the country’s grain exports via the Black Sea, and prompted fears of a worldwide food crisis.
Before the invasion, grain was one of Ukraine’s main industries, with exports totalling £10.14bn in 2021.
The country has been struggling to export grain because of the fighting, with its ports blocked and its railway system unable to cope with the extra volume.
Ukraine has accused Russia of seizing grain from territories occupied by the Russian army.
The deputy head of Ukraine’s agricultural producers’ union said that Russia had stolen around 600,000 tonnes of the foodstuff from occupied Ukrainian territory.
Speaking last month, Denys Marchuk said: “To date, about 600,000 tonnes have been stolen from agricultural companies and taken to the temporarily occupied territory of the Crimean peninsula, and from there it moves to ports, in particular to Sevastopol, and from there, ships go to the Middle East.”
It was reported in June that the self-declared Luhansk People’s Republic would start rail shipments to Russia of grain that its troops had “liberated”.
The agricultural minister of the Luhansk People’s Republic, Yuri Pronko, told Tass that the first shipment was a “historical moment”.
He added: “The first wagons of grain will go to Russia: 50 wagons, more than 3,000 tonnes.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments