Court Rules Russia Owes $1.6 Million for 2,107 Tonnes of Sunflower Seeds

A commercial court in Luhansk Oblast ruled this week that Russia must pay $1.6 million to a Ukrainian seed company for crops lost during the war. The judgment requires the Russian state to compensate Oliiar for 2,107 tonnes of sunflower seeds that remained in an occupied warehouse when Russian forces arrived.

The dispute traces back to a transaction in October 2021. Oliiar, a private firm based in Pustomyty, agreed to buy 4,700 tonnes of sunflower seeds from Prydniprovske Agrarian Company LLC. The company arranged for Svatove-Ahro LLC to store the harvest. By February 24, 2022, the facility had transferred 2,592 tonnes to Oliiar. The remaining 2,107 tonnes stayed in storage when the full-scale invasion began.

Russian armed groups subsequently seized the warehouse premises. Oliiar never recovered the unsent portion of its purchase. The court found that the company provided conclusive evidence linking the loss directly to Russia's armed aggression. The judge set the compensation amount at 65.36 million hryvnia based on an expert valuation of the crops.

The ruling names the Russian Ministry of Justice as the liable party. The court ordered the ministry to pay the full sum to Oliiar. The company is registered in Lviv Oblast, with Iryna Zalizna listed as its founder and Iryna Podoba as its director. The decision aligns with a previous order from the same court.

Earlier, the tribunal ordered Russia to pay 51.67 million hryvnia to Trading House Agrokhim LLC. That earlier award covered property lost in Svatove and Kakhovka. The new ruling adds to the financial claims against Russia arising from assets left in occupied territories.