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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Monday, September 15
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The deal gives the U.S. special access to investment projects in Ukraine, spanning natural resources, related infrastructure, and even defense projects.
The European Union and Ukraine have completed the final screening meetings for Chapter 11 of accession negotiations, focused on "Agriculture and Rural Development."
Ukrainian forces have cleared Russian troops from the village of Pankivka in the Dobropillia sector of Donetsk Oblast, the 1st Azov Corps of the National Guard reported on Sept. 15.
Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi has dismissed Volodymyr Silenko, head of the 17th Corps, and Maksym Kituhin, commander of the 20th Corps.
The Kyiv Independent’s Chris York sits down with former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson to speak about Europe’s role in Ukraine’s defense, Russia’s attacks on NATO territory, and the risks of escalation.
"Strike drones are becoming a cheap and practical solution for the front lines — they are affordable to manufacture and easily scalable," Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said.
"It is hard to imagine such openness that we demonstrate and ensure in this exercise," Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said.
"NATO is at war with Russia; this is obvious and needs no proof," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
The attack coincided with Russia's unified voting day, which included elections for 21 governors, deputies of 11 regional assemblies, and around 47,000 municipal leaders.
Ukraine's Air Force said Russian forces launched 84 Shahed-type attack and decoy drones and three S-300 missiles overnight.
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The service has become vital for hospitals, schools, and front-line military units across Ukraine.
"I think I'm going to have to do all the talking... they hate each other so much, they almost can't talk," U.S. President Donald Trump said.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sept. 14 that Ukraine's strikes on oil facilities amount to the "most effective sanctions," weakening Russia's ability to finance its war.
The number includes 910 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
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