Ukraine has confirmed that it is tracking multiple vessels carrying grain stolen by Russia from occupied territories, with shipments reaching at least four countries. The announcement comes as a diplomatic dispute with Israel over a similar purchase continues to escalate.
On Tuesday, the Ukrainian foreign ministry stated that Moscow's sales of stolen grain extend beyond Israel, and the total number of buyer countries is likely larger. Spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhyi listed Turkey, Egypt, and Algeria among the destinations, adding that these are only cases he could recall from memory.
“We see everything and will not leave it without attention,” Tykhyi said. “This will not remain without a proper response.”
The ministry emphasized that Ukraine maintains its stance not only toward Israeli companies but toward any entity that “participates in illegal trade and effectively helps Russia finance its war efforts against Ukraine.”
Egypt in the Spotlight
One vessel, the Panama-flagged bulk carrier Asomatos, docked in Egypt on Tuesday carrying over 25,000 tonnes of wheat loaded in Feodosia, a port in Russia-annexed Crimea. Another ship, the Russia-flagged Victoria, had departed from Mariupol earlier this month and unloaded over 7,000 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat from temporarily occupied territory in Egypt. The Victoria is under Ukrainian sanctions.
In early April, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he raised the issue with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. According to Zelenskyy, El-Sisi assured him that Egypt would no longer accept grain exported by Russia from occupied Ukrainian territories and expressed interest in increasing imports of Ukrainian grain.
Kyiv now says it will “approach” Egypt regarding the latest arrival. Egypt is the world's largest wheat importer and the biggest buyer of Russian wheat. According to estimates from rail carrier Rusagrotrans, Egypt has purchased about 7.6 million tonnes of Russian grain so far this season, roughly the same level as last year.
On 2 April, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow and Cairo were exploring plans to create a joint “grain and energy hub” on Egyptian territory.
The situation is part of a broader pattern of Russian exploitation of Ukrainian agricultural resources. For more on Ukraine's defense efforts, see Ukraine Sets Record by Shooting Down 33,000 Russian Drones in March. The diplomatic row with Israel is detailed in Ukraine and Israel Clash Over Russian Shipments of Stolen Grain. The EU has also weighed in, as reported in EU Warns Israel It May Sanction Those Involved in Stolen Ukrainian Grain Trade.
Ukraine's warnings are clear: any country or company that facilitates the trade of stolen grain will face consequences. The stolen grain trade not only finances Russia's war but also undermines global food security, particularly for import-dependent nations like Egypt.
