DISINFO: Kyiv demands bribes from grain shipowners
SUMMARY
In Kyiv, not only do they disregard humane considerations, but also basic decency and morals; they are striving to forcefully exploit the Black Sea Grain Initiative by abusing procedural rules or asking for bribes from the shipowners. Everything in order to squeeze out the maximum profit.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative aiming to deflect Russia’s responsibility for the growing food crisis and supply insecurity by claiming that Kyiv demands bribes from grain shipowners. This accusation was provided with no evidence whatsoever. The claim was neither counterbalanced nor critically challenged in the article.
This allegation goes in line with a wider pro-Kremlin disinformation campaign aiming to blame Western countries for a global food crisis engineered by Russia as part of its unjustified full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In fact, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has destabilised global food markets and is driving food prices up due to increased cost of production, transport and freight insurance. Russia has also destroyed substantial Ukrainian food stocks, production, as well as processing and transport capacities in areas occupied in Ukraine. Further, Russian threats to shipping transport in the Black Sea reduced the export capacity from free Ukraine.
Read similar cases that: Latvia, Estonia and other Western countries are causing global food shortage; the food crisis has nothing to do with the Russian special operation; Russia's actions did not and cannot affect the food problem in the world; and that the West blames Russia for the food crisis which was caused by sanctions.