Ukraine has asked Israel to detain a Russian vessel in Haifa carrying stolen grain
Ukraine has stated that Israel has allowed a Russian vessel carrying stolen Ukrainian grain to enter the port of Haifa, and has requested that it not be permitted to leave the port. This was reported by The Public, citing The Times of Israel.
The vessel in question is the ABINSK, which, according to Ukrainian journalist Kateryna Yaresko of the SeaKrime project at the Myrotvorets Centre, was loaded with grain from ports in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
Following the seizure of parts of its agricultural land in 2022, Ukraine has repeatedly accused Russia of illegally exporting grain to third countries, in particular using vessels from the so-called shadow fleet.
According to Axios, on 27 March, Ukrainian Ambassador Yevhen Korniychuk met with representatives of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and asked them to prevent the vessel from entering an Israeli port. Despite this, the vessel was allowed to dock.
Following this, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General met with Israel’s Ambassador to Kyiv, Michael Brodsky, requesting that the vessel not be allowed to leave the port. Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andriy Sibiga, also held talks with his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Saar, regarding this cargo.
Sybiga stressed that “the illegal export of stolen Ukrainian agricultural produce is part of Russia’s broader military operations. Such illegal trade in stolen goods must not be permitted”.
The Ukrainian Embassy in Israel described the vessel’s arrival as “a blatant violation of international law and territorial sovereignty”. Diplomats urged the Israeli side to thoroughly investigate the circumstances and act in accordance with international obligations to ensure that Israeli territory is not used for the transport of goods of illegal origin.
Ships in the shadow fleet typically have opaque ownership structures and pose environmental risks. According to industry sources, they often lack the full insurance cover and safety certifications required for international transport.
The Port of Haifa is a key logistics hub for imports and exports in the region. It is not currently clear whether the grain was intended for the Israeli market or for onward transport.
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