30 tons of soybean cargo disappeared from a port in Odesa region

In Odesa region, a truck driver disappeared with 30 tons of soybean meal instead of delivering it to the port. The man tried to sell the stolen goods to pay for the treatment of his newborn child, but instead of money, he received a court sentence.

This is evidenced by the verdict of the Dobroslav District Court.

According to the case file, on February 5, 2026, the accused, driving a DAF truck with a semi-trailer, was in the warehouse of the Logistics Dnipro enterprise in the village of Voronivka. He loaded about 30 tons of soybean meal, which he was supposed to deliver to one of the port terminals. However, instead of making the delivery, the driver left the loading site and disposed of the goods at his own discretion, causing the company losses in the amount of UAH 576 thousand.

In court, the man fully admitted his guilt and described in detail the scheme he had used. He said that he worked as a driver and transported grain, and in February he made about ten trips with soybean meal to Pivdennyi port.

According to him, during these shipments, there was no proper control over the weight of the cargo, and the waybills were often issued at the place of unloading. This, he explained, created an opportunity for abuse: he did not deliver part of the cargo to the port, and unloaded about 30 tons at another warehouse found through a grain purchase announcement, where he was promised payment of about 6,000 hryvnias per ton.

He did not receive the money for the goods immediately. The very next day, law enforcement officers contacted him, after which the man voluntarily showed the place where he had left the stolen cargo. In court, he emphasized that he was remorseful and explained his actions by difficult family circumstances, including the need to treat his newborn child.

The court found him guilty of large-scale theft committed under martial law. As a result, he was sentenced to five years in prison, but released on probation for one year.

Also in April, in Odesa, the court considered a case of possible interference with the results of phytosanitary examination, which allowed thousands of tons of corn to be exported abroad despite the violations. The court refused to approve the official's plea agreement and decided to continue the case.

Анна Бальчінос