Ukraine tracking shipments of stolen grain beyond Israel — MFA
Ukraine is tracking shipments of stolen grain not only to Israel but also to other countries and plans to intensify efforts to counter such schemes, as they effectively finance Russia’s war, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi, Ukrinform reports.
According to him, there have previously been recorded cases of vessels carrying stolen Ukrainian grain heading to Turkey, Egypt, Algeria, and a number of other countries.
“Right now, one such vessel is approaching Egypt, another — Algeria. Our message is very simple: we see this, we will not turn a blind eye to it, and it will not go without an appropriate response. This is a general approach — it applies not only to Israel but to everyone involved in this illegal trade, who in fact help the aggressor finance the war against Ukraine,” the MFA spokesperson said.
He stressed that this position also applies to Ukraine’s partners.
“We consider Israel a partner and a friend, but we openly state that this trade finances the war of our enemy against the Ukrainian people, and we will counter it,” Tykhyi noted.
He also added that Russia has effectively created not only a shadow oil fleet but also a shadow grain fleet.
“We believe that company owners, captains, and all those involved in these vessels engaged in the trade of stolen grain should also be sanctioned. Therefore, you will see more actions in this direction — international ones, not limited to Israel,” the MFA spokesperson added.
Context
- On April 12, 2026, Israel allowed the Russian bulk carrier ABINSK (IMO: 9303869) to unload more than 43.7 thousand tons of wheat that had been illegally exported from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Israel did not detain the vessel despite Ukraine’s request.
- On April 26, it was reported that the vessel PANORMITIS (IMO: 9445021), carrying a cargo of grain that may originate from the occupied territories of Ukraine, is approaching the Israeli port of Haifa. The cargo includes more than 6.2 thousand tons of wheat and 19 thousand tons of barley.
