Ukraine Accuses Israel of Importing 'Stolen' Grain from Russia, Zelenskyy Threatens Sanctions

Some sources report that Ukraine claims a vessel carrying stolen grain has arrived in Israel, while others note Israel denies receiving such evidence.

The number of ships carrying stolen grain to Israel is reported differently across sources.

Ukraine accused Israel of allowing the import of grain it claims Russia stole from occupied areas. Israel claimed that the vessel had not entered the port and had not yet submitted its documents.

KYIV: Ukraine and Israel were on Tuesday locked in a diplomatic row over allegations Tel Aviv had accepted shipments of grain, which Kyiv said Russia had “stolen” from parts of occupied Ukraine. On Tuesday, Kyiv summoned Israel’s ambassador to protest the alleged shipments. One of the world’s largest grain producers, Ukraine has repeatedly accused Russia of illegally exporting agricultural products from territory that Moscow has captured since it invaded in February 2022. “Another vessel carrying such grain has arrived at a port in Israel and is preparing to unload,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote in a statement on social media. “The Israeli authorities cannot be unaware of which ships are arriving at the country’s ports and what cargo they are carrying,” he added. The development came after an investigation by Israeli outlet Haaretz found that the cargo ship Abinsk, ostensibly belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet, had docked at Haifa a couple of weeks ago. Although Kyiv said it had warned Israel about the ship’s cargo in advance, Tel Aviv claimed that Kyiv had not provided evidence to support its claims and rejected that the ship had arrived at the port of Haifa. However, the Haaretz report indicates that this was not the first time that stolen grain from Ukraine was imported by Israel: by 2023, at least two ships carrying stolen grain had arrived in Israel, and at least one of them unloaded here. “The Ukrainian government has not submitted a request for legal assistance… nor has the Ukrainian government provided evidence for its claims,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said at a news conference in response to a question. Ukraine alleges Russia stole more than two million tonnes of grain from occupied territory in 2025. It said it had tracked shipments to Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026

Zelensky blasts Israel over purchase of stolen Ukrainian grain, threatens sanctions  The Jerusalem Post

Ukraine in diplomatic tussle with Israel over grain Kyiv says 'stolen' by Russia  Reuters

Ukraine accuses Israel of importing 'stolen' grain from Russia, as Zelenskyy warns of sanctions  The Washington Post

Ukraine accuses Israel of importing 'stolen' grain from Russia, as Zelenskyy warns of sanctions  AP News

EU warns of sanctions over shipments of stolen Ukrainian grain to Israel  The Kyiv Independent

Ukraine says Israeli buying of ‘stolen’ grain from Russia not ‘legitimate’  The Straits Times

Zelenskiy Challenges Israel Over Grain From Russia-Occupied Land  Bloomberg.com

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Israel of "purchasing stolen goods," namely grain from regions occupied by Russia. Ukraine summoned Israel's ambassador on Monday, and now it says another such ship has docked.

Ukraine and Israel are locked in a diplomatic row over allegations Israel had accepted shipments of grain which Kyiv said Russia had "stolen" from parts of occupied Ukraine.

Israel's foreign minister says it has received no evidence to support the claim that a vessel carrying grain from occupied Ukraine has reached Haifa.

Zelensky slams Israel for buying stolen Ukrainian grain, says Kyiv prepares sanctions  The Kyiv Independent

Israel's purchase of 'stolen' Ukrainian grain is not 'legitimate', Zelenskiy says  The Straits Times

Zelenskyy Says Israel Broke Own Law by Buying Stolen Ukrainian Wheat From Russia, Vows Sanctions  Haaretz