BELPOL revealed how Ukrainian grain disappears from occupied territories and what role Belarus plays in the scheme

— The analysis revealed the functioning of a stable commercial and logistical network that ensures the collection of agricultural products in the occupied territories of Ukraine, their documented legalization through Russian structures, subsequent processing and change of country of origin in Belarus, and export to foreign markets as formally "legal" goods, — said BELPOL representative Vladimir Zhigar in a comment to "Ukrinform".

According to him, the coordination of key assets and companies leads to a group of individuals affiliated with the former Minister of Internal Affairs of Belarus, former head of Alexander Lukashenka's security service, Vladimir Naumov.

— By its nature and method of organization, this activity shows signs of a systemic, pre-planned scheme for profiting from the resources of the occupied territory, rather than isolated commercial episodes, — Zhigar emphasized.

As stated in the investigation, the initial link is the structure created by the Russian occupation administration — "State Corporation "Agrarian Donbas" in Donetsk.

One of its main partners since the beginning of the full-scale invasion is the Russian-registered company "Zorka Food". The owner of this firm is the former head of the Belarusian Ministry of Internal Affairs, Vladimir Naumov.

Based on the documents available to BELPOL, it is impossible to determine the exact volumes of agricultural products exported from the occupied territories. Only individual deliveries have been confirmed. For example, on August 25, 2023, a Moscow-registered company shipped 1400 tons of wheat from the seaport of Mariupol. This is confirmed by the right to transport characteristics and a certificate issued by the Russian JSC "TsNIIMF".

And on February 8, 2023, "Zorka Food" shipped 20 tons of sunflower seeds from the 2021 harvest to the Belarusian LLC "Zvezda Pharmaceutica DD". In the packing list, the producer explicitly indicated "GC "Agrarian Donbas"", and the delivery terms — "FCA-DPR, pgt. Volodarskoye" (occupied territory of Donetsk region). The formal sender was the Russian LLC "Agroinvest" (Smolensk).

The aforementioned company "Zvezda Pharmaceutica DD" did not appear here by chance.

As claimed in the investigation, among the founders of this firm are the children of the ex-minister, Anastasia and Zakhar Naumov.

The investigation also reports that Ukrainian grain is either processed in Belarus or directly re-exported.

And oil is supplied, for example, to Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and even the EU.

— We will not yet reveal the details of exactly where it goes. We mean specific countries. This work is not public. In due course, we will tell about it when we achieve a result, — say BELPOL representatives.

According to the organization, the subjects of the investigation earned "hundreds of millions of dollars" from trading in appropriated grain.

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