‘Stolen Grain’: Ukraine’s MFA comments on ABINSK entry into Haifa

“Stolen Grain.” Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry and the Embassy of Ukraine in Israel issued an official comment regarding the “entry of the vessel ABINSK carrying stolen Ukrainian grain into the Israeli port of Haifa”

Now the Israeli public is awaiting an official response from Israeli state authorities.

On April 16, 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine published on its official platform a statement titled, “Comment by the MFA regarding the entry of the vessel ABINSK carrying stolen Ukrainian grain into the Israeli port of Haifa.” The Embassy of Ukraine in Israel also posted it on its official accounts.

We provide the full text translated from the original language:

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is closely monitoring the situation related to the entry of the vessel ABINSK into the port of Haifa, State of Israel, and its transportation of a cargo of wheat which, according to available information, originates from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian side informed its Israeli partners in advance, in particular on March 23, about the vessel ABINSK and the possible origin of the cargo from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, and also stressed the inadmissibility of import operations involving such products. Assurances were received that there would be an appropriate response.

At the same time, it is a matter of concern that, despite the information provided and the contacts between the parties, the vessel was allowed to unload in the port of Haifa on April 12–14.

The Ukrainian side regards the vessel ABINSK as one that may be involved in the activities of the ‘shadow fleet’ used by the aggressor state for the illegal export, transportation, and sale of stolen Ukrainian grain from the temporarily occupied territories and, ultimately, for financing the war against Ukraine.

Based on materials from the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, including a ruling by a Ukrainian court ordering the arrest of the vessel and its cargo within the framework of the relevant criminal proceedings, the Ukrainian side urgently sent a request for international legal assistance to the State of Israel.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine expresses hope for fruitful and constructive interaction between the competent authorities of Ukraine and the State of Israel, proper consideration of the request, and the application of the relevant legal mechanisms within Israeli jurisdiction.

The MFA of Ukraine and the Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Israel remain in constant contact with the MFA of Israel and the relevant Israeli authorities in order to ensure appropriate steps.

The MFA of Ukraine expects that the Israeli side will make a balanced and lawful decision and satisfy the relevant request of the Ukrainian side, in particular by arresting the indicated shipment of grain in order to prevent similar situations in the future.

Ukraine is consistently working to bring to justice all those involved in the illegal export of Ukrainian resources from the temporarily occupied territories and calls on international partners to take a principled position in preventing such practices.

The MFA of Ukraine will continue to take all necessary diplomatic and legal measures to protect the national interests of the state.”