Russian occupying authorities are claiming an 80 percent rise in exports from the captured Ukrainian port of Mariupol, boasting of more than 350,000 tonnes of goods shipped. However, Ukrainian officials say this is not a symbol of economic recovery but the industrial scale theft of national assets. The Centre of National Resistance (CNR) has strongly rejected the figures, calling the port a hub for looting under the guise of integration.
According to the CNR, what Russia calls “strategic resource exports” are in fact stolen Ukrainian grain, metal, and industrial equipment. The seized cargo is being transported under the Russian flag, with no regard for international law, property rights, or the economic devastation being inflicted on Ukraine’s south eastern territories. The port, which once served as a vital artery for Ukraine’s legitimate trade, has now been turned into what the CNR describes as a “robbery terminal.”
The CNR has stressed that Russia’s reported economic activity in Mariupol is simply theft repackaged as logistics. The port, since being seized early in the full scale invasion, has become a major point for illegal exports to the Russian Federation. There is no economic basis to the movement of goods — only the forced extraction of Ukrainian resources by the occupying force.
Russia has also announced plans to significantly boost the port’s capacity. Kremlin authorities aim to export around 12 million tonnes of cargo annually through Mariupol in future, focusing on Ukrainian grain and metals now under Russian control. This will be done using expanded rail links and intensified maritime operations.
Previously, on 22 February 2025, 88 rail cars carrying stolen Ukrainian coal were documented arriving at the port. These were then loaded for shipment, further illustrating the scale and coordination of this operation.
Overview of known looted goods through Mariupol port includes:
| Type of Cargo | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Grain | Ukrainian grain re-exported by Russia | Confirmed stolen |
| Metal | Industrial metal goods from Mariupol region | Confirmed stolen |
| Equipment | Factory and construction equipment | Illegally seized |
| Coal (22 Feb 2025) | 88 train cars worth of coal | Transported via Mariupol port |
Estimates of market value are difficult to calculate precisely due to wartime conditions, but the goods exported so far would easily run into billions of pounds sterling, depending on commodity prices and volume.
