Russian balter (specialized vessel for cargoing by embankment, such as grain, coal, ore, cement) “sailor Pozinich”, transporting the grain stolen in Ukraine, arrived in the Syrian port of Latakia, reports CNN, analyzing the data of the Ukrainian authorities and sources in Sea transportation industries.
Two weeks ago, the ship was off the coast of Crimea. But on April 27, the balker starred from the anchor and left in an unknown direction, turning off the transponder. The next day he was seen in the port of Sevastopol, which is confirmed by photographs from the pier and satellite pictures. According to the Ukrainian authorities, there were almost 30 thousand tons of Ukrainian wheat aboard, stolen in the territories captured by the Russian army.
In the future, the “sailor of Poznich” crossed the Black Sea, went through Bosphorus and went to the Egyptian port of Alexandria. However, there potential buyers refused to purchase grain, as they had already received a message from the Ukrainian authorities. Then the “sailor Pozinich” went to the Lebanese Beirut, where the deal also did not take place. Again, turning off the transponder on May 5, the dry cargo ship went to Latakia. But it was possible to track his course using the Tankertrackers.com service and satellite images of Maxar Technologies
The Insider writes that Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, produces little wheat due to the lack of a developed system of irrigation and lack of water, which Ukraine previously delivered to the North Crimean Canal. In 2014, he was blocked. But in Ukrainian territories north of the Crimea, they are harvested annually in millions of tons of wheat, which is exported. After the capture of the south of Ukraine by the Russian troops of the south of Ukraine, journalists noticed that the export of wheat from Sevastopol increased sharply: in March and April, it amounted to 100 thousand tons. According to the Ukrainian authorities, now thousands of tons of wheat are transported by trucks to Crimea. According to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, from the beginning of the Russian invasion, at least 400 thousand tons of Ukrainian grain were stolen and exported. Ukrainian intelligence claims that beets, potatoes and cabbage are also exported in large volumes from Ukraine.