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Ship Carrying Suspected Stolen Ukrainian Grain Docks in Israel After Weeks of Delay
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
A Russian bulk carrier carrying what investigators say is stolen Ukrainian grain has docked in Israel after waiting more than three weeks for clearance.
The vessel, ABINSK, entered the port of Haifa on April 12 after remaining idle from March 23 while awaiting authorization.
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According to Kateryna Yaresko, a journalist with the SeaKrime project of the “Myrotvorets Center” on April 12, the ship was carrying more than 43,000 tonnes of wheat taken from temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories.
“ABINSK (IMO: 9303869) was received in Haifa (Israel) with a cargo of wheat amounting to 43,765.18 tonnes from occupied territories of Ukraine. The vessel loaded at the anchorage of the port ‘Kavkaz,’ and the cargo was delivered from occupied Ukrainian ports. ABINSK had been waiting for permission from Israel since March 23, and today (April 12, 2026) it received it,” Yaresko wrote.
According to Suspilne Crimea, citing open-source tracking data, the vessel had previously been recorded in occupied Kerch before departing on March 17, 2026. It remained at sea for several weeks before being admitted to Haifa.
The development comes amid growing international scrutiny over the trade of grain originating from occupied Ukrainian territories. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on April 3 that Egypt will stop accepting such shipments from Russia.
“President El-Sisi informed me that Egypt will no longer accept grain exported by Russia from our temporarily occupied territories and, at the same time, is interested in increasing grain imports from Ukraine. I am grateful for this decision,” Zelenskyy stated.
He added that Egypt is also prepared to contribute to efforts aimed at achieving a just peace. “Additionally, Egypt is ready to make efforts to achieve a worthy peace. We agreed that our foreign ministers will stay in contact,” he said.
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The two leaders also discussed the situation in the Middle East and the Gulf region, including its impact on global oil markets, with Zelenskyy noting that he had shared updates on recent engagements with countries in the region.
The incident also reflects a broader pattern of grain theft linked to Russia’s war against Ukraine. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that Russia had taken around 2 million metric tons of Ukrainian grain over the past year and sold it across markets in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
Speaking at the Third Black Sea Security Conference of the International Crimea Platform, Sybiha described the activity as part of a wider campaign targeting Ukraine’s maritime economy and global food security. He noted that roughly 40% of the stolen grain was exported to Egypt.
The minister also tied the issue to intensified attacks on Ukraine’s port infrastructure, reporting that Russian strikes on Odesa have recently exceeded the combined levels of previous years, highlighting the pressure on one of Ukraine’s key export hubs.
