Russia exported over two million tonnes of grain from Ukraine's temporarily occupied territories in 2025

Russia continues to systematically export grain crops grown in Ukraine's temporarily occupied territories, selling them on foreign markets as its own exports. By the end of 2025, the volume of exported agricultural products exceeded two million tonnes.

Source: Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine (FISU)

Details: Intelligence reports indicate that Russia is using the infrastructure of ports it has seized in the Azov and Black Seas, primarily the seaport of Sevastopol, to export the stolen grain.

Most of these exports occurred in the second half of 2025, during which the Russians shipped about 1.4 million tonnes of grain.

More than half of the volume, 53.6%, was sent to two countries: Egypt (490,000 tonnes) and Bangladesh (250,000 tonnes). Supplies to Türkiye (96,7000 tonnes) and Lebanon (78,100 tonnes) also increased. In addition, Russia resumed grain exports to Syria (94,400 tonnes).

Among other buyers of the stolen agricultural products are Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and Djibouti, while small volumes even reached certain Balkan countries.

To circumvent international sanctions, the Russians use a ship-to-ship scheme, transferring cargo from vessel to vessel at sea.

Quote: "This allows the Russian Federation to conceal the real origin of the grain, and enables the carrier to avoid calling at ports in Ukraine's temporarily occupied territories and reduce the risk of accusations of illegal trade. This scheme is used when supplying grain to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh and Vietnam."

Background:

• Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russia has set up schemes to export Ukrainian grain using a shadow fleet and falsified documents on the origin of the goods.
• Earlier, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reported that Ukrainian intelligence had identified 45 vessels involved in the theft of Ukrainian grain and its shipment to global markets. Ukraine has imposed sanctions on 43 of the vessels, as well as on 39 captains.

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