FM monitors ship with stolen grain, stays in contact with Israel

This is stated in a comment by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, as reported by Ukrinform.

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

It is noted that the Ukrainian side informed its Israeli partners in advance, specifically on March 23, about the vessel “ABINSK” and the possible origin of the cargo from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, and also emphasized the inadmissibility of import operations involving such products. Assurances were received regarding an appropriate response.

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

The Ukrainian side considers the vessel “ABINSK” to be one that may be involved in the activities of the “shadow fleet,” which the aggressor state uses for the illegal export, transportation, and sale of stolen Ukrainian grain from the temporarily occupied territories and, ultimately, to finance the war against Ukraine.

The Ministry notes that, based on materials from the Office of the Prosecutor General, including a Ukrainian court ruling to seize the vessel and its cargo as part of the relevant criminal proceedings, the Ukrainian side immediately sent a request for international legal assistance to Israel.

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

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

Kyiv expects the Israeli side to make a balanced and lawful decision and to grant the Ukrainian side’s request, specifically to seize the aforementioned shipment of grain, in order to prevent similar situations in the future.

Finally, it is emphasized that Ukraine is consistently working 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 stance in preventing such practices. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine pledges to continue taking all necessary diplomatic and legal measures to protect the state’s national interests.

As reported by Ukrinform, on April 15, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha drew the attention of his Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar to a Russian vessel carrying stolen Ukrainian agricultural products that had docked at one of Israel’s ports.

Earlier, Kateryna Yaresko, a journalist with the SeaKrime investigative project of the Myrotvorets Center, reported that on April 12, Israel allowed the Russian bulk carrier ABINSK (IMO: 9303869) to enter the port of Haifa. The ship delivered 43,700 tons of wheat taken from the occupied territories of Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of attempting to play both sides in relations between Russia and Ukraine, even though Moscow is aiding Tehran.