Russia Is Using a Secret Network to Steal Ukrainian Grain | WSJ

While the war in Ukraine has upended the global supply of grain, a WSJ investigation reveals how Russia has quietly institutionalized the theft of hundreds of thousands of metric tons of it out of newly occupied areas of Ukraine and into Russian-allied countries in the Middle East.
Photo illustration: Adele Morgan
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[@bryanperras7628]

I was pleasantly surprised by the level of research and source verification done in this video. Actually gathering evidence before making a statement is lost on most so-called journalists these days. Thank you for this in-depth report.

[@seanmoran2743]

CIA sources 👍🙄

[@kayelyward8714]

This is what complicates the famine in Northern Africa. It's not just a crime against Ukraine, it's a crime against poor countries who can't afford higher grain prices. Shame on them.

[@kaboom1655]

It's not a crime against Ukraine. This is eastern Ukrainian grain and the east needs to restart its economy now it is separate frome Ukraine.

[@kayelyward8714]

@@kaboom1655 it is quite possible there were contracts for that grain and it was grown and intended to go elsewhere. It is common knowledge that grain grown in Ukraine was exported to other countries. The fact that Ukraine grain is no longer available for the world market leads to rising grain prices. All Russia did was increase the cost of food for everyone globally. If people are hungry, I don't begrudge them food. Let them eat. But if Russia takes the grain and uses it in other places besides eastern Ukraine then shame.

[@kaboom1655]

@@kayelyward8714 The grain may well have been intended for another market but at least it is getting out. I believe the profits will benefit the Ukrainian farmers in the Donbas and it is only theft if the money is taken to Russia.

[@heilzelynsky9746]

They should grow their own food

[@CommeradeZhukov]

Then better tell the Americans to return that oil from Iraq.

[@varungk3388]

Man, for a while I was convinced I was watching NYT's visual investigations. The narrator's voice is impeccable.

[@rudiruttger]

I shudder at the merest thought of comparisons being drawn between the NYT and the WSJ. For me the WSJ is a refuge of good content in print and elsewhere.

[@abhishekdev258]

Dude ..NYT is 💩

[@JonROlsen]

@@rudiruttger They know how to produce propaganda too.

[@sergiytokio7295]

Stolen grain from the occupied territory of Ukraine!!! This is terrorism!!!

[@ZeddZeeee]

very impressive research! great job showing the truth! keep up the hard work!

[@festekj]

So it’s okay for US troops to occupy Syria and facilitate the theft of oil. You do realize that US troops are stationed at a oil refinery in Syria? Again American mantra « do as I say, not as I do »

[@rubyridge5207]

This is only a half-truth, to manipulate people who cannot think for themselves.

[@HiThisIsMine]

@@rubyridge5207 - the world is a conspiracy.. thankfully we have “free thinkers” like yourself who don’t follow online and talk show conspiracies spread by people with little education and zero verifiable evidence

[@GdaySport]

Good journalism, thank you

[@gook5219]

There is no need for this journalism because it's not stolen, it's taken. If a country occupies a new territory, that means that land is under their control including production. Or they were supposed to hand over the grain back?

[@jessemorotsela3552]

Not really. Russia doesn’t care. Never hides anything.

[@JonROlsen]

An expensive, well choreographed, piece of propaganda.

[@typer1911]

@@JonROlsen says who

[@JonROlsen]

@@typer1911 me

[@skeltonjuanita6515]

I am not surprised and the ships going dark is very scary because what else is going on the ships and trucks…or coming back out? Food is the obvious commodity but are we witnessing something more nefarious? Shipping is a very good cover and grain is easy to transport…and to hide other commodities.

[@jameswyre6480]

It is actually somewhat helpful when ships go dark inappropriately as it alerts observers that funny business is afoot. Helps with highlighting yachts being used as money laundering by Russian officials/oligarchs as well. Russian leaders are thieving scum and steal from decent Russians as well as decent Ukrainians.

[@jorgecalvo3846]

How do we know that the grain isn't Russian?

[@jorgecalvo3846]

It has become very fashionable to blame Russia for all that ails the world.

[@jorgecalvo3846]

Whose lives are those,?This too cold be a fabrication

[@etiennen4136]

The West is busy stealing $300b of Russia... so...

[@tomhenry897]

It’s not a secret they go through a 3rd country and everyone pretends not to know

[@islandwills2778]

exactly, its how europe and the west in general keeps buying russian gas/oil and diesel. Not to mention grain and many other commodities. As it turns out people dont really want to stop buying cheap and good quality commodities in favor of more expensive sources. Assuming they can even find replacements.

[@hristokolev24]

Nice to see Russian truck drivers speak better English than some of the prime Russian diplomats lol

[@ChishaSinyangwe]

😂😂😂

[@gong2541]

@@IntesoFFS Because Russian isn't taught around the world?

[@gong2541]

​@Non Usable Account Yeah, and all the photos and satellite images were all fake, yeah

[@jeanmuragirayezu2184]

@@gong2541 Satellite imaged can be manipulated. We've seen that several times in the past. Do you remember the satellite prints of Saddam Hussein's so-called WMD warehouses? They turned out to be milk storage places.

[@hristokolev24]

@@gong2541, dude, this one has "propaganda bs" written all over it.

[@ThamjithThaha]

Grain Theft Auto

[@ibinfo-tube5063]

Are they looking to steal it, I guess they already have it all.

[@stant7122]

That’s how war works

[@robertbusso6859]

Straight out of Stalin's playbook.

I don’t understand why this was allowed to happen. Turkey is in NATO. Put a bunch of military ships in the Bosporus and don’t allow any Russian ships to pass as part of the sanctions.

[@masterdreadeye1865]

Russia is the reason Turkey lost the Ottoman empire. They wont deny russia again.

[@ThebigJJ621]

Cause technically NATO is not at war with Russia. While there is EU sanction, Turkey is not part of EU and has not implemented any serious large-scale sanction, besides not allowing Russian military ships in and out of the Bosporus.

[@rbh224]

bc theyre getting paid. duh

[@schattenfaust]

Because after the war Ukraine will be join eu and tr will be there with Russia,good or bad TR-RU has working relations denying Russia has no profit for Turkey even so Turkey did a lot for Ukraine.

[@abovetheruins88]

Up until few weeks ago turkey was buying a big part of the Ukrainian stolen grain. Only after big pressure from USA and Ukraine they stopped.

[@willgorman7832]

They didn’t protect the Russian driver they interviewed at all 😂 it’s gonna be easy for them to figure out who he is

[@Joelmonterrey]

They literally changed his voice. That wasn't how he really sounds. You understand, right?

[@Joelmonterrey]

@PREKKEH bwoy So why do you think a long-standing credible news source risk intentionally creating a fake Russian mole? Bruh, come on.

[@elizabethdebeer6122]

But they also said there was only 4 drivers...

[@elizabethdebeer6122]

But they also said there was only 4 drivers...

[@ChishaSinyangwe]

Exactly! Plus he gave intimate details of loading dock, date and time, the type of truck, number of trucks etc

[@mbg9650]

It would be interesting to know the name of that colonel ordering the looting.

[@garygraham8373]

all russian colonels order looting

[@berkovl7226]

For anyone wondering, the company they "don't want to name" is Nibulon. A major ukrainian agricultural company.

[@ItzJigz187]

Probably very close to bill gates fake seed corporation giving the world GMO crops and other things that will spread the growth of cancer and other deadly conditions across that world (mainly Africa). This site about Ukraine losing money it's about the USA loosing money and time on a very complex plan. Of course this American reporter isn't going to mention that vital part.

[@L_Train]

I was, thanks

[@MasterSamson-dd8ii]

shame Russia 🇷🇺 say not true all you said not true.. this is Russia like bucha we support Ukraine 🇺🇦 from India 🇮🇳

[@ShivaKumar-in8hn]

ohh really ...lol

[@eugeniusbcmumba3710]

Nothing in this report to write home about as it is purely Ukrainian propaganda. The initial route shown is in Russia ( canal between Caspian Sea and Crimea) . Much wheat, barley and soya is grown in relatively warm Southern Russia. As for the ship earlier stopped in Turkey, this was cleared as carrying legitimate Russian grain. Your report thus falls well on its head.

[@sergiytokio7295]

TERRORISTS RU!!!

[@SuperBlackHurricane]

Wow, actual investigative journaling. Very nice

[@KappaClauss]

Bro, it's just war propaganda. Russia is the largest grain producer. They spend more money on war than all the grain in Ukraine costs

[@Lady.MD67]

@@KappaClauss no they stole it from ukraine

[@KappaClauss]

@@Lady.MD67 in 2021 they too stole it in Ukraine?

[@moisiemoisie5486]

@@Lady.MD67 occupied territories means everything on that territory is urs anyway

[@jarednovel]

The Russian guy that was talking would be identified using technology and will face punishment

[@melissagallinetti9521]

Imagine thinking you could hide crimes these days.

[@operator9858]

like those iranian oil tankers that we stole? or the afghan reserves?

[@Dspace80]

Da comrade, turn off transponder then no one will see us... as they took another shot of vodka.

[@abel_underwater]

@@Dspace80 nothings escaping the eyes of American spy satellites, idek why they try hiding 😂 same thing with NK and China, always getting exposed doing shady things like this

[@Truthpatriot62Z]

Just like America stealing syrian grain and oil we can't hide the crime.. but keep the news from every getting to American news you won't see wsj make report about that.

[@gong2541]

@@operator9858 Sources?

[@sanojgreen8874]

True journalism

[@fifteenbyfive]

Is not stolen, it is Peoples' Grain, comrades!

[@carloslourenco800]

And KNOWING of this illicit trade, WHY is Turkey allowing it through their waters?? Turkey is either benefitting from or complicit in some of this smuggling. That's a shame. Erdogan doesn't seem much different from putin. All he has to so is CLOSE the bosphorus to illegal/stolen cargo!!

[@exgangster843]

It's no secret that turk play both sides. They don't want 2 b totally controlled by west, but not too close to RUS. And can still b a "lil gangster" in mid east so they (turk) had a bit of regional power

[@0yvey]

how it's under russian control, so its russian property lol, like the old saying finders keepers

[@mehmoodkhankhattak]

the whole EU is still benefitting from Russian Gas, look at germany hungary and many more. Why you EU and West is so Hypocratic. We have not heard Russian side of story yet, The world dont believe on Western and us media anymore.

[@StaryzHelios]

it under rusia ccontrol

[@acyd1337]

@@0yvey doesn't really fall under the "liberating" part nor does all the other deeds done by russia. even if it's under russian control it's practically still stealing from their "citizens" without lawful reason except for profits going to the kremlin.

[@DardaniaLion]

My God! How evil can one be to do this? I hope I see Russia fall down where Titanic is.

[@user1qaz2wsx3edc]

Your nation is already falling with masshootings on a daily basis. Fix you problems first before criticizing other nations!

[@RealHomeboy]

@@user1qaz2wsx3edc whataboutism

[@Vladklx]

Not more evil than US

[@RealHomeboy]

@@user1qaz2wsx3edc that doesn’t take away that Russia is a fascist neo nazi dictatorship.

[@JohnySilver7]

So is it better to let it rot in storage facility, while people starve?

[@onetrickpony4179]

Time to begin some special torpedo operations...

[@danjohnston9037]

" Letters of Marque" Anyone ???

[@rudiruttger]

I like the way you think.

[@janthegeek]

If Ukraine wins I hope they get reparations for the stolen grain.

[@MWENDA-vv5im]

Russia has not stolen anything. The grain belongs to the farmers who have decided to sell their grain through the Russian Federation.

[@rudiruttger]

There are certainly many assets of their foe that can be liquidated across the world, a court will likely process this whenever this crisis abates.

[@rudiruttger]

There are certainly many holdings of their foe now held in sequestration that can be divested and given to them, a court will likely process this whenever this crisis abates.

[@rudiruttger]

@@MWENDA-vv5im There have been no such arrangements whatsoever, and none shall be honored that come with arms levied in their imposition!

[@kaboom1655]

Don't worry as it won't come to that. Its not stolen grain as those areas no longer belong to Ukraine.

[@charlesrovira5707]

Brilliant, Vladimir. You do realize you're not getting any grain next year? It's hard to grow grain when your military has cratered the fields with bombs...

[@LexMakarov]

Russia is the world leader in the export of grain (in response to the sanctions, it refused to sell grain to the West). And Russian troops bomb only the ground... after a shell hits the ground deteriorates and nothing grows on it for 100 years. xDDD

[@tirex3673]

​@@LexMakarov The west produces enough grain to feed itself, the Russian blockade of Ukraine is threatening to cause a famine in Africa, not in Europe.

[@miraphycs7377]

​@@LexMakarov so if that is the case then how is both russia and ukraine large exporters of grain?? 1945 ww2 was not 100 years ago idiot

[@LexMakarov]

@@tirex3673 Where will the hungry Africans go?

[@ruger6049]

@@LexMakarov Odd. Why do they need to steal Ukrainian grain when they export twice that of the next three top exporters.

[@nicteng]

If the research is true, then the russians are without shame, not to mention that they are so, so, low; I am beyond words. WSJ, well done with the research.

[@mmashorts5351]

What shame this done by Donbass gov lo ..who tf gonna stop people of donbass... eithinic Rusian lo

[@vosaha]

Russia is a terrorist state.

[@jamaljames2578]

Always watching from Georgetown Guyana south America 🇬🇾🇬🇾🇬🇾🇬🇾🇬🇾

[@fr0z3ngh0stly9]

NATO navies could theoretically seize these Rusian ships for illegally plundering Ukrainian grain. The grain could still be sold to the countries that need it most but the funds would aid Ukraine, not the Russian aggressors. It would obviously be a huge escalation risk, but it seems Russia only responds to strength and shows of force.

[@larsrons7937]

"Arrest" the ships you mean, not "seize," is takes a lot of paperwork before you can "seize" (new owner) a ship. You "arrest" (can't move) such ships. But how would NATO be able to arrest these ships? NATO is not at war. All tradeships not at war with Turkey can pass freely and unhindered trough their straits. The rest is international waters. NATO can arrest them in port or the nearest coastal waters. Out on the open sea it would be pure piracy.

[@alaska3300]

Why should they do that? NATO is enriching Russia pitting billions into Putins pockets everyday buying oil from Russia. Not to mention the gold…

[@musiconabudget3712]

Do it. I wanna see the impacts of the sarmat lol

[@IAMGiftbearer]

I agree, and NATO should do this, as should Turkey, since the ship routes pass through Turkish waters. We need to all stop being deterred by escalation risk. If we do nothing then that is a huge green light to organized crime syndicates like this one.

[@Greg29]

@@IAMGiftbearer Turkey recently seized on of these ships, then let it go.

[@rd9102]

Is this really shocking to anyone?

[@ottoottakringer7453]

It is called spoils of war...

[@manikkalore1630]

This is great journalism .

[@spiritmoveministry4760]

..Send me a dm right away

[@prezdentraygun8790]

Everything is being recorded Mr Putler.

[@user-yn3gw9gy3w]

just try to control your fantasies

[@Dannyhunter1970]

Use sheep believed all

[@zameisie7016]

Petunia still lives in the time of the kgb where secret instructions wee whispered to each other. He's not aware off satellite images and cell phone recordings

[@dianahill5116]

Interesting and informative. Thank you.

[@vrr6368]

Great reporting

[@charlesblount1083]

Ukraine got to do something about Crimea why they helping in the stealing of food from Ukraine 🇺🇦

[@unconnected]

Jesus the spam bots and Russian propaganda bots are working overtime here.

[@darkhorseman8263]

Some of them are Chinese.

[@rana7liverpool]

ery impressive research! great job showing the truth! keep up the hard work!

[@spiritmoveministry4760]

Send me a dm right away

[@jabulaniharvey]

corruption is a cancer

[@buhingkalbaryo]

Impressive investigative journalism love this

[@ryanmannwah3641]

ukraine makes it, while Russia takes it.... been that way for 100 years. smh

[@vosaha]

My country’s old saying is: Russians are coming, hide and lock everything you have.

[@photerm7320]

😂🤣🤣

[@thecathode]

Brilliant investigation! Thank you!

[@tahabutt3453]

america steel oil russia steel wheat 😅

[@Dannyhunter1970]

The sheep are out ba ba

[@cD-vg5go]

Excellent Investigation.... well laid out as well. Now Blow Them UP!!

[@toradog5719]

An excellent piece of journalism and unsettling revelations. Are they hiding weapons in that grain?

[@John_Doe448]

Why should they smuggle weapons out of a war zone? How does that make any sense

[@justcalmdown1027]

russia is providing grain to syria, which the US has invaded illegally and is currently preventing syria from accessing its own oil and grain.

[@RezzpektMVP]

@@justcalmdown1027 why? Because syria was a democratic and developed nation right?

[@RickTheGreatestPosterEver]

"Excellent journalism?" I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that this is even "news". Russia is taking ENTIRE CITIES. When they take the whole country, I wonder if the media say _"Russia is looting Walmart"_

[@andrejs2708]

@@dexterkrammer1089 Fighting ISIS? How come that when Obama regime started to fight ISIS, ISIS only grew bigger and stronger untill Russia entered in 2015? 🤔🙄

[@newbie_productions]

Haven’t seen good journalism in years, but I seriously hope this situation stops.

[@howardhudson11]

Hard to load a sunken ship...

[@John_Doe448]

well, than it is good all of them are fine and still going

[@SR71ABCD]

We need to halt this network and arrest all crews onboard ship.

[@chrismiller5198]

This makes me wonder what vicious and underhanded tactics are beneath the Russians.

[@MrThedoublec]

None. They, like their Black Sea fleet flagship, are already at the bottom. You can't go any lower.

[@avg8434]

Once anyone captures any land, Content on that land belongs to them na....?

[@user1qaz2wsx3edc]

Give back Hawaii that was invaded and stolen.

[@jameskelley9913]

How does the narrator know that the grain was not purchased. Probably shipping grain to Syria to feed the Syrians? Disabling ship and aircraft transponders in a war zone should be common practice.

[@MS-wz9jm]

Stealing it from who? Its the farmers wheat, if they get paid then there is no stealing going on here.

[@PC-vq5ud]

If the farmers have not been murdered by the brave russians.

[@johnmbithi335]

God bless Ukraine and give it power to defend it's territory

[@vult_r]

@@danbrand2455 may god evaluate you in the afterlife for the words you are completely making up in his name

[@TesserId]

We need to boycott any grain products from the countries that benefit from this.

[@John_Doe448]

Tell that to the people who need food on their table.

[@fubytv731]

Switch to potatoes and rice!

[@JonROlsen]

so you're bitching about Russia bringing grain to the world market?

[@charmainekirk1512]

@@JonROlsen stolen grain from Ukraine...No!

[@JonROlsen]

@@charmainekirk1512 Darned if you do, and darned if you don't.

[@bugabateinc971]

Wow great investigators

[@101yayo]

At least there is no waste.

[@marvelouswonderful]

I get sad and angry, but then the mere existence of good journalists gives me hope. Thank you for this work.

[@bravosixactual3000]

Feels like a movie briefing tbh. Nice job WSJ.

[@CHMichael]

What are they supposed to do? Let it rot?

[@thornil2231]

What do they mean "steal"?

[@akbeal]

Ukraine still needs a lot of help and ordinary people I know are stepping up to do just that. Some are donating to Ukraine Army, Come Back Alive, or humanitarian relief there. Anyone can do a quick search online for verified ways to help Ukraine and first thing that comes up is a big list of legit places to donate. Others are writing their governments demanding more action and sanctions against Russia or aid for Ukraine.

[@spiritmoveministry4760]

Send me .a dm right away

[@JonROlsen]

Don't live your life as a stupid person.

[@alaska3300]

Oh, how stupid people are….Sanctions are not hurting Russia. They are only hurting the very countries and other countries imposing them. Zelensky is corrupt. The money people are sending is ending up in his off shore billion dollar accounts…lol. Yes it’s true, he’s in the Pandora Papers and they don’t lie. Look it up. He is a corrupt fraud. This is a proxy war. Meaning a war fought between two smaller countries that each represent the interests of other larger powers, and may have help and support from these:

[@TamagoHead]

Unfortunate if a ship w/o an active transponder suddenly disappears.

[@jananders1351]

"Accidents" are an unfortunate risk at sea especially for ships with transponders de-activated.

[@jamesadams8570]

AS A BOAT OWNER MYSELF IT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL TO TURN OFF A SHIP TRANSPONDER AND ANY BOAT OR SHIP DOING SO SHOULD BE BARRED FROM ENTRY INTO ANY PORT IN THE WORLD AND BARRED FROM ANY EMERGENCY SERVICES FOR THE LIFE OF THE VESSEL. SHIPS WITH NO WORKING TRANSPONDERS ARE A MASSIVE DANGER TO ALL VESSELS ON THE HIGH SEAS.

[@johnmerrifield4391]

Why would they even put a license plate on the vehicle in the first place.

[@blueballsbkueballs]

Can you do a piece on US army stealing oil from syria to Iraq as well?

[@marilenaganea6578]

I can recommend a good psychiatrist to treat you for psychosis.

[@mgronich948]

No this is US media, they only do stories that are anti Russia. And we invaded Iraq only to give them freedom and democracy. Similar for Afghanistan and Libya and Syria. And when we sponsored a military coup against Chile in 1989 and brought a military dictator to power, we were still just trying to bring democracy and freedom to Chile. When we steal oil from Syria we're just giving people freedom and democracy.

[@hootowl6354]

That didn't happen. Look it up.

[@curiouspeople6441]

When you still their central bank 🏦 reserve, what do you expect in return ?

[@esphilee]

Stole.

[@HitnGiggleGolf]

are you condoning Putin and his terrorist orcs stealing grain from Ukraine???

[@shymkiv_art]

What else people need to open eyes on these crimes?

[@user-fe4wz3jb8p]

Thanks for truth!

[@Dannyhunter1970]

Pure lyes sheep

[@vinivin2321]

Good job western media

[@Dannyhunter1970]

Sheep

[@Dspace80]

Awesome job investigating and clearly calling out these war crimes!

[@MelvinCruz]

Now we know that most of that food go to Europe from Ukraine, only 13% to fight famine. Now after Russia closed that line of Ukraine lies Russia is exporting way more food to African countries for free...now who is the bad people? 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@jennyvanwyk4796]

O dear i have no words

[@coachking5208]

Thank you WSJ. Can you do a video on oil from Middle East and Diamonds from Africa. May want to start in NY.

[@rikcab]

What more do you expect from a bunch of greedy, soulless, criminals.

[@greatgalaxy2118]

Yes you are absolutely right, The world can not either much EXPECT from a bunch of AMERICAN soulless criminals who STOLE OIL FROM Syria.

[@cristinadavid-block345]

You are absolutely right

[@slackdee]

Haha. That describes 99% of all US politicians !!

[@andrejs2708]

Yeah. All of this was expected from the collective west in Libya, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan..

[@jeanmuragirayezu2184]

American exceptionism at its best, in these comments. Pointing the finger at others when you are guilty of all wars and theft.

[@anifxtutorialsite]

Let's target those truck convoys with Himars. This is the perfect reply to this kind of robbery.

[@33imo333]

33:555 with all the global and local problems. try to be nice to everyone that deserves it.🎉❤

[@chuckkv]

Special Operation to De-Nazifi Ukrainian grain silos.

[@Monsterpala]

Shouldn t be too hard for turkey / Nato to identify and stop those ships confiscating the cargo... Tehy should also do the same to all Russian ships basically blocking Russias blue Water access, that ll hurt more than just not selling computerchips to them. The fact those ships were registered well in advance tells everything. and if russia comlains thell them your not stealing the grain they didn t steal. But all the outrage seems to be more of a show, Mc Donalds closed its russia business, BK and KFC keep making rubels...

[@MrRockfisherman]

What can you say. Evil is as evil steals.

[@ShandiponiDeyAnkur]

Its not stolen Ukrainian grain, its Russian war bounty won in a rightful war.

[@manashmahanta77]

These are Russia's own grains now.

[@zameisie7016]

I'm coming g to take your smart device. Then it will be mine , not yours

[@zameisie7016]

@StatikTiger I'll take the gun too

[@MrThedoublec]

@StatikTiger When he comes, he'll make sure he has one too. Or maybe he'll just stand back at your property line, and launch a few mortar rounds in to denazify your smart device in a Special Internet Operation.

[@sjerome]

How dumb do they have to be to mark all their trucks with Z? That would make it too easy for someone to Frame them? I would like to hear the logic behind marking the trucks.

[@donaldcook3273]

The truck are being diverted from the army to run a thief of the grain and who knows what else they can get their grubby little hands on and they sale of those theifs will just disappear..... Putin filling his pockets ..... no one the wiser

[@larsrons7937]

You would have to enter Russian controlled territory to frame them. First you would need proof such as license plates etc. which they don't show. This "Z" today is used for so much I think it just means _"I belongZ to Putin, don't meZZ with me."_

[@etiennen4136]

Well those are the territory of the DPR, they voted to separate from Ukraine years ago. So technically its not Ukrainean grain

[@MrThedoublec]

@@etiennen4136 There IS no DPR. It is a fictional creation of the invaders and occupiers, the same as Manchukuo was a puppet state of the Japanese to try to legitimize their stealing of Chinese territory after their 1931 invasion of Manchuria.

[@Therealbrucedeal]

I’m convinced Vladimir Putin is just Lester from gta

[@god-son-love]

WSJ great job

[@shivamtomar]

US stole $1tn worth oil from iraq make a video on it.

[@Buttersausage]

Lies

[@gnoglyr7798]

1 trillion? They would have to be taking millions of barrels a day for decades to reach that sum. They don’t even have enough ships to move that quantity back. Lol at least have some basic logic before trolling

[@thrillereighties8241]

@@gnoglyr7798 OK, let's see how much trolling is there in his statement. One oil tanker is apparently worth at least $51,000,000. So 1 trillion divided by 51 million gives us over 19,607 oil tankers. According to MARAD’s latest Vessel Call Snapshot, 21,944 tankers 10,000 dwt or greater made port calls to the United States last year. Keep in mind that was for one year and large oil tankers can actually cost as much as $100 million. I would say that $1 trillion is nothing. You can also do yourself a favour and google Iraq oil production from when the USA invaded Iraq. I find it curious that from 2003 onwards Iraq's oil production doubled from1.3 - 2.3 million barrels of oil to 4.5 million barrels of oil per day! One oil tanker can carry between 70,000 to 190,000 barrels of oil. So if we work with conservative numbers, 2.3 million barrels per day gives us 839,500,000 per year. The USA controlled Iraq from 2003 till 2011 so with conservative figures that give you about 6,716,000,000 barrels of oil. If you look at the prices for barrels of oil between 2003 till 2011 you will find they fluctuated between $40 - $180 a barrel. So let's say on average of $60 a barrel you will get to about $402,960,000,000 for Iraqi oil produced while it was in the hands of the USA. It comes to about half a trillion dollars of oil and that is if I only look count from 2003 till 2011 and work with very cheap oil prices. The USA actually received oil imports from Iraq from 2000 till 2021 so we won't know how much they got or how much they paid for and how much they stole and how much they got at a very low discount price but $1 trillion does not sound that far fetch over this period.

[@larsrons7937]

@@thrillereighties8241 Thanks for a very good analysis. It's my personal guess that they paid for the vast majority. Interesting would then be "how much" they paid? I guess those numbers would be available to the public (though I'm not the one to go and search for them). But that the US in whichever way got $1 trillion worth of oil from Iraq would not surprise me.

[@Shijoemathew007]

If America was doing the same, the news would be "How smart soldiers with the help of the government are tackling food poverty in Syria" @$$#0($!!

[@jeanvaljean6234]

Maybe but now this is Russia and this is the truth. They are stealing

[@stuartverret5347]

Nothing will be done about it...

[@asimoford4994]

Did I saw an American semi truck in the hands of Russian army?

[@hadenwesley6548]

Wow actual investigative journalism??? Well done!!! Great piece. Let's hope for peace for Ukrainians and Russians alike, as so many are suffering and more will suffer.

[@photerm7320]

Very opposite. They didn't fight nazism during ww2. They joined them and caused major death casualties for their own country.

[@hermanbrandt9299]

From South Africa: shame on Russia for stealing Ukrainian food. Shame on Putin. Your "SPECIAL FOOD STEALING OPERATION " ? Shame.

[@cte4dota]

Spoils of War, looks like Grain in Ukraine is Gold of Iraq/Afghanistan.

[@bizling]

There must be a way to tag these vessels without suspicion, something on the hull like a barnical device. Turkey has some questions to answer, as I thought they "closed" the entry into the black sea.

[@ChishaSinyangwe]

The details that soldier is giving are so specific it's easy for the Russian military to root him out. The man told the date, the facility he loaded from, the type of truck he drove and the time! Holy smokes!

[@udontknowme7798]

Nobody knows if he actually was a Russian, ore all this is fake!

[@zacgrierson]

I was just thinking this, it wouldnt be hard to hold all 20 drivers until one gives up. Exposed a lot of identifiable information.

[@androijustme772]

@WSJ do respond; did you take measures to protect your sources? Did you stage those interviews?

[@a.davidmendez6043]

Gloria a Ucrania 🇺🇦

[@user1qaz2wsx3edc]

Deal with REALITY. Ukraine is doomed.

[@princeo15]

Kindly also investigate about Basrah crude in 2004-2012

[@chrismitchell4622]

Clearly a job for Interpol

[@ElectroCurmudgeon]

Slava Ukraini! Glory to Ukraine. My heart is breaking for the peaceful people of Ukraine. the world sees putins armies actions the world sees the putins a lies saint javelin

[@juamu1132]

So what? That's occupied territory they have the right to claim those wheat as prize.same goes to the US when it claimed iraqi oil.

[@goldgold2712]

All Iraqi should be paid for

[@priceandpride]

Add AirTags to everything

[@YANDEX30V]

This is called Spoils of War