Russian Illegal Taxation in Occupied Ukrainian Territories Surpasses 2023 Total in Just 9 Months

Russia collected $1.2 billion (118 billion rubles) in taxes from temporary occupied Ukrainian territories between January and September 2024, surpassing the total tax revenue from these regions in 2023, according to Russian RBC on October 9.

After staging illegitimate referendums in September 2022, Russia declared the annexation of Ukraine’s Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions, despite lacking full control over any of these territories.

Donetsk and Luhansk regions accounted for the majority of tax revenue. Donetsk generated $584 million (56.7 billion rubles), while Luhansk contributed $398 million (38.7 billion rubles).

In comparison, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson collected $153 million (14.9 billion) and $81 million (7.9 billion rubles), respectively.

RBC notes that while tax amounts of 2024 already topped the 2023 total, these regions will be receiving subsidies for a long time still, with Russia planning to invest $3.6 billion (350 billion rubles) there in 2025.

Earlier, Ukrainian PM stated that Russia exported over 180,000 tons of stolen Ukrainian grain from Mariupol port in 2024.