The Security Service of Ukraine and the Office of the Prosecutor General have gathered evidence and formally charged Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev in absentia for organizing the mass theft of grain from temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, according to the SSU.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, and under Patrushev’s coordination, Russian forces have stolen over 4 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain, valued at more than 23 billion UAH (approximately $580 million), and transported it to Russia.
The investigation established that this involves the large-scale looting of agricultural enterprises in the temporarily occupied regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.
The stolen grain was then sold by Russia using a shadow fleet, disguised as Russian-origin cargo, to countries in the Middle East and North Africa.
The SSU reminded that Dmitry Patrushev is the son of the Kremlin’s so-called “grey cardinal,” who led the FSB and then Russia’s Security Council for over 25 years and currently serves as an aide to President Putin.
It was Patrushev Sr. who lobbied for his son’s appointment as Russia’s Minister of Agriculture, and later as Deputy Prime Minister.
To carry out the grain theft scheme, Patrushev Jr. used the powers granted to him as Russia’s Minister of Agriculture.
Based on the collected evidence, SSU investigators charged him in absentia under Part 2 of Article 28 and Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (war crimes committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy).
As the suspect is currently in Russia, comprehensive measures are underway to bring him to justice.
