Ukraine Threatens Israel With Diplomatic Fallout Over Suspected Stolen Grain Shipment

Ukraine has warned Israel of potential diplomatic repercussions if a second vessel suspected of transporting grain from Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories is allowed to dock and unload at the port of Haifa.

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According to Axios on April 27, citing a senior Ukrainian diplomatic source, Kyiv has urged Israeli authorities to deny entry to the bulk carrier PANORMITIS. The source stated that if the vessel is permitted to unload, Ukraine “reserves the right to use the full range of diplomatic and international legal response measures.”

The same source told Axios that allowing the ship to proceed would “lead to a crisis in relations between Ukraine and Israel,” adding that Israel had previously “essentially ignored” Ukrainian requests regarding an earlier vessel carrying similar cargo.

The report by Axios follows additional confirmations from Ukrainian and international outlets. According to Israeli journalist Barak Ravid, who published the information on X, Ukrainian officials are closely monitoring the vessel’s movements and have reiterated that its entry into Haifa could have consequences for bilateral relations.

Data from maritime tracking service MarineTraffic indicates that PANORMITIS arrived near Israel’s coast on April 25 and is currently awaiting permission to unload. Investigators from the SeaKrime project, cited by Ukrainian media, estimate the cargo may include more than 6,000 tons of wheat and 19,000 tons of barley.

MarineTraffic map shows the route of bulk carrier PANORMITIS from the Black Sea near occupied Crimea through the Bosporus toward Israel’s Haifa port. (Source: MarineTraffic)

According to SeaKrime analyst Kateryna Yaresko, part of the shipment can be traced to the vessel LEONID PESTRIKOV, which transported grain from the occupied port of Berdiansk before transferring it at sea. Documentation for the cargo was reportedly processed in the Russian port of Temryuk, a method used to obscure its origin.

An investigation by Haaretz reported that at least four shipments of grain allegedly originating from occupied Ukrainian territories have already been unloaded in Israel in 2026. The outlet noted that such cargo is often transferred between vessels at sea south of the Kerch Strait in so-called ship-to-ship operations, complicating efforts to track its provenance.

The current dispute follows a previous case involving the Russian bulk carrier ABINSK. According to multiple reports, including statements referenced by Axios, the vessel delivered more than 43,000 tons of grain to Haifa after departing from occupied Crimea. Ukrainian officials had warned Israeli authorities in advance and requested that the ship be denied entry.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha later raised the issue directly with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, stating that “illegal export of stolen Ukrainian agricultural products is part of Russia’s broader war effort” and that “such illegal trade in stolen goods must not be allowed.”