The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has addressed Ukraine’s request for legal assistance concerning the bulk carrier Panormitis, stating that the request lacked sufficient evidence regarding the origin of the grain onboard. Ukrainian authorities have alleged that the grain was exported from temporarily occupied territories.
In a statement posted on social media, the Israeli Foreign Ministry noted that the Israeli police had reached out to the Ukrainian prosecutor’s office for additional information and relevant evidence, as mandated by Israeli law.
Furthermore, the ministry indicated that the Panormitis, which was scheduled to dock next week, had opted to leave Israeli territorial waters.
“Israel upholds the rule of law, and its authorities will always act in accordance with the law,” the Foreign Ministry assured.
Israeli media reported that the importer company, Tsentsiper, had refused to unload the grain from the Panormitis at the Haifa port due to the risk of falling under European Union sanctions.
As of 12:10 PM Kyiv time, the Panormitis had weighed anchor and departed from the port, according to ship tracking service MarineTraffic.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described this decision as a “positive step,” but emphasized that Ukraine would continue to monitor the ship’s movements. He also warned other nations against any cooperation with it.
Meanwhile, Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko stated that the ship’s exit from Haifa to neutral waters does not terminate the criminal proceedings, asserting that “the fact of the offense has been recorded at the international level.”
Background context reveals that the Panormitis had arrived at Haifa with what is believed to be wheat and barley from occupied Ukrainian territories. Diplomatic sources indicated that Ukraine had warned Israel about potential deterioration in bilateral relations due to the ship’s arrival.
On April 28, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry officially summoned the Israeli ambassador to deliver a note of protest regarding the arrival of another vessel carrying stolen Ukrainian grain.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar stated that the country is investigating the claims made in the inquiry and is maintaining diplomatic contact with Ukraine. Ukraine has also lodged an official protest against the Russian vessel’s unloading in Haifa.
On April 29, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office sent a package of documents to Israel requesting the arrest of the Panormitis and its cargo, which, according to investigations, may be part of a scheme to legalize the illegal export of Ukrainian grain.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed that Kyiv’s request is being reviewed by the appropriate authorities.
Earlier, on April 12-14, the Russian bulk carrier Abinsk was unloaded in Haifa with stolen Ukrainian grain. At that time, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry had warned Israel about the potential origin of the grain aboard the ship and stressed the inappropriateness of such operations.
Additionally, Kyiv had requested international legal assistance from Israel to seize this stolen batch of Ukrainian grain.
According to the Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service, Russia has been systematically exporting grain grown in temporarily occupied territories and selling it on international markets as Russian exports. This operation utilizes the infrastructure of occupied ports in the Azov and Black Seas, primarily the Sevastopol port. Over the course of 2025, Russia exported more than 2 million tons of grain from these territories, with approximately 1.4 million tons shipped in the second half of the year.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry has responded to Ukraine's request for legal assistance regarding the Panormitis, a ship allegedly carrying grain from occupied territories. The ministry stated that the request lacked sufficient evidence and that the ship has since left Israeli waters. Ukraine continues to monitor the situation and has warned against cooperation with the vessel.