Main image: Russian ship Matros Pozynich carrying grain from occupied territories in Ukraine is docked at Latakia's port on April 24. (Source: Marine Traffic)
Russia has officially allowed private companies to trade grain from the occupied territories of Ukraine. One of the key operators is Pallada LLC, which supplies stolen Ukrainian grain to Syria and other markets, according to Türkiye Today.
Journalists report that despite the fall of Assad’s regime and the restoration of diplomatic relations between Kyiv and Damascus, Russia continues to transport Ukrainian grain worth tens of millions of dollars to Syrian ports. These operations rely on the so-called “shadow fleet”: Russian vessels switch off navigation systems (AIS), falsify cargo origin documents, and thereby avoid oversight. The revenues from these shipments are reportedly used to finance the war.
According to documents, the occupation authorities have granted Pallada significant grain export quotas for 2026, directly from occupied Ukrainian territories, including:
- 13,820 tonnes from the Zaporizhzhia region
- 11,831 tonnes from Crimea
- 7,848 tonnes from the Kherson region
The main export market remains Syria, with key ports including Tartus and Latakia. In one example, the vessel Matros Pozynich reportedly loaded 27,500 tonnes of wheat in occupied Sevastopol between March 26 and April 4, 2026, and arrived in Syria on April 24. At market prices of $225–$250 per tonne, the shipment is valued at approximately $7 million.
After the change of power in Syria at the end of 2024, shipments temporarily declined, but have now reportedly returned to levels seen during Bashar al-Assad’s rule. Previously, Russia sold grain to Syria at inflated prices (up to $375 per tonne), while current deliveries are made at market or lower prices due to limited demand.
In addition to Syria, some vessels carrying such grain have reportedly also reached Egypt, Israel, and Libya.
The revival of these schemes comes during a sensitive period for Ukrainian–Syrian relations, which are gradually being restored after the fall of the Assad regime. In 2025, a legal alternative route was launched under the UN World Food Programme and the “Grain from Ukraine” initiative. Ukrainian grain is delivered to Turkish ports, processed into flour, and then transported to Syria as humanitarian aid.
