Ukraine has requested urgent clarification from Israel following reports that a vessel allegedly linked to Russia’s “shadow fleet” docked at the Port of Haifa carrying grain originating from Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia, according to Ukrainian officials and Israeli reports.
The Ukrainian Embassy in Israel expressed “deep concern” over the incident, stating that the shipment may constitute “a blatant violation of international law and Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty.” Kyiv has called on Israeli authorities to thoroughly investigate the matter and ensure the country is not used as a transit point for goods obtained through what it described as illegal activity.
The incident prompted a call between Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Sa'ar, to clarify the issue. "I stressed that the illegal export of stolen Ukrainian agricultural products is part of Russia's broader war effort," Sybiha said late on Tuesday in a post on X. "Such illegal trade with stolen goods must not be allowed."
According to a Ukrainian official familiar with the details, Ukrainian intelligence had tracked the vessel’s preparations to depart the Black Sea with the grain cargo and compiled a dossier that was submitted to the country’s prosecutor-general in March. The information was also reportedly shared with Israeli officials during a meeting in Jerusalem later that month, with a request that the ship not be allowed to dock.
Kyiv considers all grain produced in the four regions Russia claimed as its own as stolen
A Ukrainian court subsequently issued an arrest warrant for the vessel earlier this month, the official said. Following reports that the ship had docked in Haifa, Ukraine’s prosecutor-general raised the issue with Israel’s ambassador in Kyiv, requesting international legal assistance and the detention of the ship.
Kyiv considers all grain produced in the four regions Russia claimed as its own since invading Ukraine in 2022, and Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, to have been stolen by Moscow. Russia refers to the four regions as its "new territories", but they are still internationally recognized as Ukrainian.
The episode could pose a diplomatic challenge for Israel, as it may be viewed as a potential breach of US and international sanctions imposed on Russia and its network of vessels used to circumvent restrictions. Ukrainian officials have urged Israel to prevent the ship from departing until the matter is clarified.
Separately, Israeli media reported that grain from Russian-occupied areas has been part of a broader trade network involving Iran, with Tehran allegedly supplying Moscow with weapons, including Shahed drones, in exchange for agricultural goods.
Israel has not yet issued an official response confirming whether the vessel docked in Haifa or unloaded its cargo.