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Ukraine Urges Israel to Seize Second Ship Linked to Stolen Grain Trade
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Ukraine has formally asked Israel to take legal action against the bulk carrier Panormitis, which Kyiv says delivered grain taken from Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories to the port of Haifa.
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According to Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on April 29, the request was submitted through official diplomatic and legal channels. The Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine has also sent a formal appeal to Israeli authorities based on a Ukrainian court ruling ordering the vessel’s arrest as part of an ongoing investigation.
“This is not Twitter diplomacy, but a very concrete legal and diplomatic request for international legal assistance that necessitates a response. We expect the Israeli side to take it seriously rather than responding with emotional statements,” Sybiha said.
According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, the vessel is suspected of transporting grain that was illegally exported from a closed port located in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory, in violation of both Ukrainian legislation and international law.
Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko stated that Ukraine is requesting Israeli authorities to detain the vessel and its cargo, conduct searches, seize shipping and cargo documentation, collect grain samples, and question the crew.
Investigators estimate that more than 1.7 million tons of agricultural products have been unlawfully removed from occupied Ukrainian territories since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, with a total value exceeding UAH 20 billion (approximately $500 million).
The case follows a series of similar incidents involving vessels suspected of transporting stolen Ukrainian grain.
Reporting by SeaKrime, a monitoring project linked to the Myrotvorets Center, indicates that the bulk carrier Abinsk delivered more than 43,000 tons of wheat from occupied territories to Haifa earlier in April. The vessel departed from Kerch on March 17 and remained offshore awaiting permission before being allowed to dock on April 12.
According to Axios journalist Barak Ravid, Ukraine warned Israel of potential diplomatic consequences if another vessel carrying grain from occupied territories were permitted to enter the port. Diplomatic sources cited by Ukrainian outlet hromadske confirmed that Kyiv raised the issue through official channels.
Ukraine later issued a formal protest note to Israel’s ambassador, while President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a sanctions package targeting those involved in the illegal grain trade was being prepared.
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