Russia starts shipping Crimean grain to Syria out of annexed Sevastopol
According to the June 14 edition of New Sevastopol, Sevastopol Sea Port Director Sergey Yemelyanov reported that his seaport has shipped its first 3,800 tons grain delivery from Krasnohvardiiske for delivery to Syria.
At the same time Yemelyanov did not name the Syrian port to which the grain will be delivered. According to local media reports, the Port Director forbade journalists from photographing the ship "so that the ship owner does not have problems with sanctions."
The management of the Sevastopol Sea Port reportedly concluded a contract with Syria for the transshipment of 100,000 tons of products per year. Deliveries are scheduled with regularity once a week.
The Russian Vice-Governor of Sevastopol, Vladimir Bazarov, visited Syria in June. According to the Sevastopol media, during his visit he discussed the possibilities of cargo transshipment between the ports of Sevastopol and Syria.
Crimean farmers will harvest less than twice as much grain as last year – in total, only 800 thousand tons – due to poor weather conditions. The press service of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Crimea, which is controlled by the Kremlin, reported on June 1 that four districts have already prepared to declare an emergency situation of drought.
An emergency regime was declared in the Crimea due to droughts in Krasnohvardiiske, Nyzhnohirskyi, Pervomaiskyi and Sovietskyi Raion.