Russian ships move Ukrainian agricultural products through occupied ports
Energy exports remain one of Russia’s main sources of financing for its war against Ukraine, while Moscow also uses stolen Ukrainian grain as a tool of influence over other countries, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence said on Aug. 14.
Ukrainian agricultural products are being transported through occupied ports by Russian ships, according to a report from Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence on August 14. The Maritime Vessels section of the agency's War & Sanctions portal revealed information on 26 ships used by Russia for this purpose. These vessels transport not only grain from temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories but also Russian oil and petroleum products, as well as liquefied natural gas from the sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project.
Of the 26 ships, 18 are not sanctioned by any of Ukraine's partner countries, according to the agency. The Defense Intelligence emphasized the importance of coordinating sanctions and detaining vessels involved in violations to restrict Russia's maritime logistics and deprive Moscow of resources needed to continue the war. Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service reported on August 13 that Russia is also constructing a shadow fleet for liquefied natural gas by purchasing aging LNG carriers and building new vessels in anticipation of the EU's full ban on Russian LNG imports, scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027.
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