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Ukraine Urges EU Sanctions on Bangladesh Over Alleged Imports of Russian-Stolen Grain
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
Ukraine is preparing to ask the European Union to impose sanctions on Bangladeshi companies involved in importing wheat that originated from Ukrainian territories currently under Russian occupation, Reuters reported on June 27, citing informed sources.
According to documents reviewed by Reuters, Ukraine’s embassy in New Delhi has sent multiple letters this year to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The letters urge Dhaka to reject over 150,000 tons of grain shipped from Russia’s Kavkaz port — grain Ukraine says was stolen from its occupied regions.
Ukrainian Ambassador to India, Oleksandr Polishchuk, told Reuters that Dhaka has not responded to the diplomatic requests. He added that Kyiv intends to escalate the matter with the EU, following intelligence indicating that Russian companies are blending stolen Ukrainian grain with Russian wheat to obscure its origin before export.
“It's a crime,” Polishchuk stated. “We will share our investigation with our European Union colleagues, and we will kindly ask them to take the appropriate measures.”
Until now, no reports have surfaced about a diplomatic rift between Ukraine and Bangladesh over the grain trade.
A spokesperson for Bangladesh’s Ministry of Food told Reuters that the country prohibits grain imports from Russia if the wheat originates from Ukrainian territory under occupation. The official also claimed that Bangladesh does not import stolen grain.
Meanwhile, a Ukrainian official emphasized that under Ukrainian law, any voluntary trade — including by farmers on occupied territories — with Russian entities is strictly prohibited.
Earlier, around 150 pro-Palestinian activists broke into the facilities of OIP Land Systems — a Belgian defense company that refurbishes military vehicles for Ukraine — causing more than $1 million in damages.
