Latvia Introduces Border Controls on Grain to Block Stolen Ukrainian Goods

Latvia has introduced border controls on grain shipments as part of measures to prevent the transit of goods looted from Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories, Latvian authorities announced on September 25, 2026.

The controls are aimed at identifying and blocking grain that may have been stolen from Ukrainian farms and agricultural facilities in Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine, which is then moved through third countries including Latvia.

Context

Ukraine and its allies have been working to interrupt the international trade routes used by Russia and Russian-aligned entities to sell stolen Ukrainian agricultural produce — particularly grain, sunflower oil, and other commodities — primarily from occupied regions of Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk, and Luhansk oblasts. Latvia's move is part of broader EU-wide efforts to close these loopholes.