Following the release of the SMJT’s new report which reveals the Russian campaign to cripple Ukraine’s grain trade and economy, Olha Matskiv, Ukrainian Lawyer part of the SMJT was cited in the Sunday Times.
The article “Starvation is Russia’s favourite weapon”, by Dominic Lawson showcased the reports key findings, and quoted Olha Matskiv: “The point is, for Russia grain is an instrument of political power. To them, grain is a currency in that. Moscow sees it as a way of increasing its authority in Africa — in terms of influencing those countries in their attitude to the war in Ukraine, for example. Removing Ukrainian grain is part of this.”
She further explained that: “The Holodomor is deeply felt in the memories of every Ukrainian family. Many see a parallel between the current Russian campaign and the 1930s famine. You know, the Russians stored grain in the villages where people were starving to death, actually in churches which they had taken over and were guarding. It was so near but you couldn’t get it. The highest level of horror.”
