Israel halts Russian grain ship amid stolen Ukrainian wheat row

Published on 30/04/2026 - 12:06 GMT+2

Israeli import institution Zenziper has halted the unloading of a cargo vas allegedly carrying atom stolen by Russia from temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories, Israeli media person reported.

Ukraine’s overseas ministry welcomed the development, saying it shows that Kyiv’s ineligible and diplomatic efforts are having an effect.

“This is besides a wide awesome to each vessels, captains, operators, insurers and governments: bash not bargain stolen Ukrainian grain. Do not go portion of this crime,” Andrii Sybiha said connected X.

According to reports, the institution said that “in airy of the circumstances” it had been forced to hold unloading the cargo, and that the supplier would person to find an alternate destination for the goods.

“The Russian supplier of the wheat cargo volition person to find different destination astatine which to unload it,” Zenziper reportedly said.

Marine postulation monitoring information amusement that the vas Panormitis is moving distant from the larboard of Haifa astatine astir 9 knots, adjacent to afloat speed. Its last destination is presently unknown.

Ukraine’s overseas ministry said Kyiv would “continue to way this peculiar vas and pass against immoderate operations involving it”.

The Panama-flagged Panormitis entered Haifa Bay implicit the weekend.

According to Ukrainian officials, the bulk bearer is carrying much than 6,200 tonnes of wheat and 19,000 tonnes of barley. It had been waiting to dock and unload successful Haifa arsenic diplomatic tensions betwixt Ukraine and Israel escalated sharply successful caller days.

Ukraine announced connected Thursday that it had formally asked Israel to apprehension a cargo vessel carrying what Kyiv says is stolen Ukrainian grain, escalating a diplomatic enactment betwixt the 2 countries aft Israeli authorities allowed a erstwhile vas with akin cargo to unload unchallenged astatine the larboard of Haifa.

Israeli officials denied receiving capable grounds from Ukraine and accused Kyiv of engaging successful “Twitter diplomacy”.

Euronews said it had contacted the Israeli Foreign Ministry and Zenziper for comment, but had not received a effect astatine the clip of publication.