Ukraine issues formal protest to Israeli ambassador over stolen grain imports

Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi stated that the reason was the continued arrival in Israel of agricultural products illegally exported by Russia from occupied areas of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian side stressed that the origin of this grain has been clearly established, and the schemes used to conceal it — including ship-to-ship transfers in the Black Sea — are well known to Israeli authorities. Despite this, the cargoes continue to reach Israeli ports and enter commercial circulation.

Tykhyi emphasized that Israel’s ignoring of Ukraine’s official appeals and requests for international legal assistance, including calls to detain vessels and cargoes, effectively creates conditions for the legalization of stolen Ukrainian grain.

Ukraine is therefore demanding that the Israeli side immediately take measures to stop the import of stolen grain and prevent its unloading in Israeli ports.

The ministry also noted that the issue is not limited to Israel: Ukraine systematically responds to and counters such Russian activities in all regions.

Background

Earlier, Kateryna Yaresko, a journalist with the SeaKrime project at the Myrotvorets Center, reported that the vessel ABINSK, carrying over 43,000 tons of wheat from temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, was accepted in the Israeli city of Haifa.

The ship was based in Kerch in occupied Crimea and departed on March 17, 2026. From March 23, the ABINSK waited for permission from Israel and was accepted at the port of Haifa on April 12.

Later, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called his Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa’ar and stressed the unacceptability of such trade.

On April 25, Yaresko reported that another ship carrying grain from occupied Ukrainian territories was approaching Haifa. Axios journalist Barak Ravid, citing a senior Ukrainian diplomatic source, wrote that Ukraine had warned Israel of a possible crisis in relations if this vessel was also allowed to enter and unload in Haifa port. This was also confirmed by diplomatic sources to hromadske.