The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry summoned the Israeli ambassador on April 28 to deliver a protest note regarding the arrival of a second vessel carrying stolen Ukrainian grain in Haifa. This action was confirmed by Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
Sybiha expressed concern over Israel’s lack of adequate response to Ukraine’s previous demands regarding an earlier shipment that had also reached Haifa. He warned Israel against accepting stolen grain, emphasizing that such actions could harm bilateral relations.
“It is difficult to understand the absence of an adequate response from Israel to Ukraine’s legitimate request concerning the previous vessel that delivered stolen goods to Haifa. Now, with another such ship arriving, we once again warn Israel against accepting stolen grain and damaging our relations,” Sybiha stated.
In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar remarked that no evidence had been presented regarding the latest vessel, and noted that Ukraine had not submitted a legal request for assistance. He assured that the matter would be examined, affirming Israel’s commitment to the rule of law and the independence of its law enforcement agencies.
Earlier, from April 12 to 14, the Russian bulk carrier Abinsk was unloaded in Haifa, carrying stolen Ukrainian grain. At that time, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry had warned Israeli authorities about the potential origin of the grain onboard and highlighted the unacceptability of such operations.
Additionally, Kyiv had sent a request to Israel for international legal assistance to seize this stolen grain shipment. According to the Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service, Russia has been systematically exporting grain cultivated in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and selling it on international markets as Russian exports.
The Russian Federation has utilized the infrastructure of occupied ports in the Azov and Black Seas, particularly the port of Sevastopol, for this purpose. In 2025, Russia exported over 2 million tons of grain from these occupied territories, with approximately 1.4 million tons shipped in the second half of the year.
The Ukrainian government has formally protested to Israel regarding the arrival of a second vessel carrying stolen grain. This follows previous warnings about a similar shipment, raising concerns over Israel's response to Ukraine's requests for legal assistance.