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Russian oligarch Alexander Tkachov's company, Agrocomplex, has seized around 400,000 acres of farmland belonging to three Ukrainian agribusinesses in Ukraine's Russian-occupied territories, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Tkachov, an ally of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, is a former agriculture minister and governor of Russia's Krasnodar Krai.
The Ukrainian authorities are investigating the theft of farmland by Tkachov’s company, according to the newspaper.
“Russia is taking over the economy in occupied territories and using that control to help control the whole area,” Dmytro Skorniakov, CEO of Ukrainian agricultural company HarvEast Holding, said.
HarvEast has lost 100,000 acres in Russian-occupied parts of Donetsk Oblast, while Nibulon, another agribusiness firm, has lost 50,000 acres, and Agroton has accused Agrocomplex of stealing 250,000 acres.
As of Nov. 10, an estimated 2.8 million metric tons of grain and 1.2 million tons of oil seeds with a combined value of $1.87 billion had been destroyed or stolen due to Russia’s war against Ukraine, according to the Kyiv School of Economics.
Research using satellite imagery from NASA’s food security and agriculture program showed that Russia had collected almost 6 million tons of wheat from occupied territories, Bloomberg reported on Dec. 3.
Swiss Prosecutor General Stefan Blaettler said in July that selling looted raw materials could constitute a war crime.
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Wednesday, September 9
(Updated: )
Russia pounds Kyiv in overnight attack, killing 5, injuring 35, as brief truce ends in missile fire.
The attack has killed at least three people and injured 16 others, according to local officials. The strike signals a definitive end to Kyiv's brief respite while hosting U.S. envoys.
In a separate message, Vladimir Putin pledged continued close cooperation with Pyongyang under their "comprehensive strategic partnership."
Zelensky and other international leaders are expected to attend the funeral ceremony in Oslo on Sept. 9.
Tuesday, September 8
The defense minister cautioned that the contracted missiles would take time to arrive.
(Updated: )
Ukraine relies on the American-made Patriot PAC-3 air defense system for its defense against Russian ballistic missiles.
Spanish F/A-18 fighter jets, deployed as part of a NATO air-policing mission, were scrambled.
Ukraine's EU membership could lead to "another Wirtschaftswunder ('economic miracle') in Europe," provided the country delivers on reforms, said EU enlargement chief Marta Kos.
Russia's FSB detains Moldovan citizen allegedly recruited by Ukraine to assassinate Russian general.
The assassination attempt reportedly targeted Nikolay Varpakhovich, a Russian Aerospace Forces general and commander of the 22nd Heavy Bomber Aviation Division, according to Russian independent media outlet Astra.
(Updated: )
Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined his vision for the peace process and gave U.S. President Donald Trump his assessment of the war, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters.
(Updated: )
As of 8:30 a.m., with the attack still ongoing, air defenses had downed or suppressed two ballistic missiles, 31 cruise missiles, and 142 drones. Strikes were recorded at 29 locations, while debris from intercepted drones and missiles fell at nine additional sites, the Air Force said.
A day before a U.S. delegation arrived, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia had deliberately targeted the runways at Kyiv's Zhuliany airport and Boryspil International Airport.
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