Egypt has permitted the unloading of 26,900 tons of stolen Ukrainian grain from the vessel ASOMATOS at Abu Qir, despite Ukraine’s legal requests for the ship’s seizure. This incident marks the fourth time since April that Russian-stolen grain has been processed in Egyptian ports.
Ukrainian officials reported that just five days prior, the country’s Attorney General had submitted an official request for legal assistance to Egypt’s Ministry of Justice concerning this illicit cargo. The grain was exported by the sanctioned company Agro-Fregat through occupied Crimea, with Ukraine providing comprehensive data and legal grounds for the ship’s arrest and its cargo.
In a statement, Ukraine expressed confusion over Egypt’s decision, emphasizing that the country has long served as a reliable provider of food security for Egypt. “We do not understand why our Egyptian partners repay us by continuing to accept stolen Ukrainian grain,” the statement read.
Ukrainian officials urged Egypt to adhere to international law and the commitments made to Ukraine, reinforcing the principles of bilateral relations between the two nations. They also reminded Egypt and other nations of Ukraine’s historical suffering from famine, which was orchestrated by Moscow in the past. “When Moscow steals our grain again, it evokes the worst memories,” the minister stated.
Furthermore, he characterized such acts of looting as complicity that only fuels further aggression, rather than legitimate trade.
Egypt's decision to allow the unloading of stolen Ukrainian grain has sparked outrage in Ukraine, which has provided legal grounds for the ship's seizure. Officials are calling for adherence to international law and emphasizing the historical context of Ukraine's struggles with grain theft.