its ports. on wednesday the u.s. pledged an additional $250 million in emergency food aid to deal with the grain crisis. the u.n. s top food official pleaded with russia s leader to end the blockade. it is absolutely essential that we allow these ports to open because this is not just about ukraine, this is about the poorest of the poor around the world who are on the brink of starvation as we speak. so i ask president putin, if you have any heart at all, please open these ports. russian actions to weaponize food go well beyond the blockade. russians are accused of stealing farm equipment and tons of grain from ukrainian farmers. more now from isa soares. reporter: before the war, most of the food produced by ukraine wasported through
ports like this, thousand they a now they are blockaded by russia and also pilfered 400,000 tons from ukrainian farmers in russian-occupied territory. footage obtained by cnn from zaporizhzhia shows trucks wearing the white z symbol, transporting grain to russian-held crimea, an act that president zelenskyy s administration is calling food terrorism. translator: this is not just a strike at ukraine. dozens of countries in various regions of the world have found themselves on the brink of food deficit. reporter: through satellite images, we were able to identify the russian merchant ship, one of three involved in the trade of stolen grain, seen here at the port in crimea on april 29. from there the vessel carrying
fuels. derek van dam, thank you very much. now momentum on the side of ukraine, that is the assessment from nato military official, the latest on ukraine s efforts to push back russian forces, just ahead. plus ukraine says russians are stealing its grain by the ton, food that should have been exported to feed people around the world. store your things until you re ready. then we deliver to your new home - across town or across the country. pods, your personal moving and storage team. someme people have minor joint pain, plus high blood pressure. and since pain relievers may affect blood pressure, they can t just take anything for their pain. tylenol® is the #1 dr. recommended pain rief brand for those with hig. if you have questions on whether tylenol is right for you, talk tyour doctor.
the grain traveled through to alexandria in egypt, then on to beirut but also turned away. finally may 8, it reached syria according to shipping sources and ukrainian officials. so in this situation, in the middle east and africa, they will be they don t have choice, okay? they will import wheat from anywhere wherever it is possible. so i think that this is really state-supported theft. reporter: for russia stealing wheat and other grain during the war could prove lucrative. the price of wheat has skyrocketed so far this year, more than 60% or so, spiking after the war started on february 4th, and how much of a valuable commodity is it while