“Stolen Grain”. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Embassy of Ukraine in Israel released an official comment about “the entry of the vessel ‘ABINSK’ with stolen Ukrainian grain into the Israeli port of Haifa”

Now the Israeli public is waiting for an official response from the Israeli state authorities.

April 16, 2026 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine published on the official resource “Commentary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the arrival of the vessel ‘ABINSK’ with stolen Ukrainian grain to the Israeli port of Haifa“, the Embassy of Ukraine in Israel posted it on its official accounts.

We present the text in full translated from the original language:

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is closely monitoring the situation related to the arrival of the vessel ‘ABINSK’ in the port of Haifa, State of Israel, and its transportation of a cargo of wheat, which, according to available information, originates from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian side informed Israeli partners in advance, particularly on March 23, about the vessel ‘ABINSK’ and the possible origin of the cargo from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, and also noted the inadmissibility of import operations with such products. Assurances were received of appropriate response.

At the same time, it is concerning that, despite the provided information and contacts between the parties, on April 12–14, the vessel was allowed to unload in the port of Haifa.

The Ukrainian side considers the vessel ‘ABINSK’ as one that may be involved in the activities of the ‘shadow fleet’, used by the aggressor state for the illegal export, transportation, and sale of stolen Ukrainian grain from the temporarily occupied territories and, ultimately, financing the war against Ukraine.

Based on materials from the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, including the decision of a Ukrainian court to arrest the vessel and cargo within the framework of the relevant criminal proceedings, the Ukrainian side promptly sent a request for international legal assistance to the State of Israel.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine expresses hope for fruitful and constructive interaction between the competent authorities of Ukraine and the State of Israel, proper consideration of the request and the application of appropriate legal mechanisms within the framework of Israeli jurisdiction.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Israel are in constant contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel and Israeli competent authorities to ensure appropriate steps.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine expects that the Israeli side will make a balanced and lawful decision and satisfy the corresponding request of the Ukrainian side, in particular arrest the specified batch of grain, to prevent similar situations in the future.

Ukraine consistently works to hold accountable all those involved in the illegal export of Ukrainian resources from the temporarily occupied territories and calls on international partners to take a principled position in preventing such practices.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine will continue to take all necessary diplomatic and legal measures to protect the national interests of the state.”

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