Main points
- Israel allowed the vessel “ABINSK” to unload at the port of Haifa, although Ukraine warned about its possible origin from the occupied territories.
- Ukraine called on Israel for legal assistance and the seizure of the stolen grain, citing a Ukrainian court decision.
Israel accepted a ship with grain from TOT / Photo Facebook of Kateryna Jaresko
Ukraine is currently closely monitoring the situation related to the vessel “ABINSK” and its transportation of wheat cargo originating from the temporarily occupied territories. Ukrainian representatives warned Israel in advance about the vessel and the possible origin of the cargo.
What is known about the current situation with stolen grain?
It was also emphasized that import operations with such products are inadmissible, as reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
According to the statement, the Ukrainian side received assurances about an appropriate response. But despite the information provided, the vessel was allowed to unload at the port of Haifa on April 12-14. And this is worrying.
Ukraine considers the vessel “ABINSK” as one that may be involved in the activities of the “shadow fleet” that Russia uses to finance the war against Ukraine, and in particular:
- illegal export;
- transportation;
- sale of stolen Ukrainian grain from temporarily occupied territories.
Based on the materials of the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine, including the decision of the Ukrainian court to arrest the vessel and cargo within the framework of the relevant criminal proceedings, the Ukrainian side immediately sent a request for international legal assistance to the State of Israel,
– the text says.
Currently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine hopes for fruitful and constructive interaction between the authorities of Ukraine and the State of Israel, proper consideration of the request and application of appropriate legal mechanisms within Israeli jurisdiction.
It is expected that the Israeli side will make a balanced and lawful decision and satisfy the relevant request of the Ukrainian side, in particular, arrest the specified batch of grain in order to prevent similar situations.
In addition, Ukraine is already working to hold accountable 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 on this issue.
Please note! Kateryna Yaresko, a journalist for the SeaKrime project of the Myrotvorets Center, wrote on her social networks that ABINSK was received in Haifa with a cargo of wheat from the occupied territories of Ukraine. The vessel loaded at the anchorage of the Kavkaz port, and the cargo was delivered from the occupied Ukrainian ports. ABINSK had been waiting for permission from Israel since March 23, and received it on April 12.
What else should you know about the situation with TOT grain?
- Recall that Egypt supported Ukraine at the beginning of the month and assured Zelensky that it would not buy grain from the temporarily occupied territories. As Volodymyr Zelensky noted, Cairo is interested in buying Ukrainian grain.
- And in March, the US lifted sanctions on some Russian ships. One ship is involved in the theft of Ukrainian grain. It is the Sv Nikolay.