88 railcars filled with coal stolen from Ukrainian territory have arrived at the port of Mariupol, which remains under Russian occupation. The Mariupol City Council, citing the Center for the Study of Occupation, confirmed the illegal transport of Ukrainian resources. The invaders continue to use the port as a logistical hub for exporting stolen goods, including coal, grain, and metal, to Russia.
Russian forces have announced plans to expand the port’s capacity to 25 railcars at a time, with 18 new berths set for operation in 2025. This development will allow the occupiers to escalate the scale of resource theft from Ukrainian lands. The looted coal and other cargo are systematically transported to Russian ports and industrial facilities, deepening the economic exploitation of occupied regions.
Mariupol, once a thriving Ukrainian industrial hub, has become a centre of Russian military logistics. Reports indicate that Russian bulk carriers regularly enter the port to load stolen resources. Petro Andriushchenko, head of the Center for the Study of Occupation, confirmed that another Russian vessel had docked the previous day to collect cargo. The systematic plundering of Ukraine’s resources has become a key strategy of the Kremlin’s occupation, depriving Ukraine of economic assets while fuelling Russia’s war machine.
The destruction and exploitation of Mariupol continue under the pretext of reconstruction. However, rather than restoring the city for its rightful residents, Russia has prioritised the seizure and transport of valuable resources. The international community has repeatedly condemned Russia’s looting of Ukrainian territory, calling for sanctions and legal action against those involved in the systematic theft of Ukraine’s economic assets.
