Turkish UN supplier buys stolen grain from occupied Mariupol — investigation
This is revealed in an investigation by ‘Slidstvo.Info’.
Journalists have established that between 2023 and 2024, the Russian company “Nika” shipped over 54,000 tonnes of wheat to Turkey from the half-ruined, occupied Ukrainian city of Mariupol.
Investigators found that the owner of “Nika” is Russian businessman Roman Gurov. He is also the CEO of the sanctioned company “Roboavia”, which manufactures “Sarych” reconnaissance drones and “Surprise” strike drones for the Russian occupying army.
According to a source in the Russian customs service, in 2023 the company “Nika” exported wheat worth $3.7 million (15,500 tonnes) to Turkey and Egypt. The following year, the volume of exported wheat increased almost fourfold — to 59,500 tonnes worth $12.9 million.
All declarations of conformity (a document confirming that the goods meet established technical requirements and standards) that journalists found for Nika’s wheat for the period from July 2022 to early 2026 state that its production sites are located in occupied Mariupol.
Customs declarations indicate that the recipient of the grain in Turkey is Global Commodities and Logistics Limited, though the final recipient of part of the cargo was Erisler. The Turkish company produces flour and instant noodles, which are also sold in Ukraine.
“Slidstvo.Info” established that in April 2024, the vessel Alfa M, which is subject to Ukrainian sanctions, transported over 7,800 tonnes of wheat from Mariupol to the Russian port of Temryuk. From there, the grain was shipped to Turkey. The documents list Erisler as the final recipient and Global Commodities and Logistics Limited as the intermediary. In the cargo declaration, Mariupol is listed not as a Ukrainian city but as a Russian one.
Journalists received no response to their enquiry from Erisler. Global Commodities stated that the company “operates in the Azov-Black Sea region in strict compliance with internationally recognised trade standards” and denies purchasing grain from Mariupol, and “reserves all rights to take legal action without further notice”.
Investigators also note that laboratory testing of one of the wheat consignments received by Erisler in April 2024 was carried out by the Ukrainian branch of the international company Cotecna in Odesa.
