Ukraine asks Israel to seize ship with stolen grain

Ukraine appealed to Israel through the ship “Panormitis”, which is carrying grain from the temporarily occupied territories.

This was announced by Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga and Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko .

The Prosecutor General’s Office has sent an official request to seize the vessel and its cargo. The Ukrainian side is also requesting to conduct a search, check documents, take grain samples, and question the crew.

According to the investigation, some of the grain was loaded on board after being transshipped from another vessel. The “Panormitis” is now heading to the port of Haifa.

Law enforcement officers also determined that the ship entered closed Ukrainian ports, although this is prohibited. Such actions are considered a violation of Ukrainian legislation and international maritime rules.

The case is being investigated by the Main Investigation Department of the SBU under the leadership of prosecutors from the Prosecutor General’s Office.

Andriy Sybiga emphasized that Ukraine did not send a public statement, but an official legal and diplomatic request that requires a response.

“This is not Twitter diplomacy, but a very specific legal and diplomatic request for international legal assistance that requires a response. We expect the Israeli side to take it seriously, and not respond with emotional statements,” he said.

According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, since the beginning of the full-scale war, Russia has exported more than 1.7 million tons of agricultural products worth more than 20 billion hryvnias from the occupied territories of Ukraine.

As a reminder, Ukraine warned Israel about a possible deterioration in relations due to the approach to the Israeli port of a ship carrying Ukrainian grain exported from the occupied territories.