Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Kyiv may impose sanctions over the purchase of grain taken by Russia from occupied Ukrainian territories and shipped to Israel.
In a statement posted on platform X, Zelensky said a vessel carrying such grain had arrived at a port in Israel and was preparing to unload its cargo, stressing that the shipment âcannot be considered legitimateâ.
The warning follows an investigation by Haaretz, which reported that a ship carrying grain from Ukrainian territories docked in Haifa Port and waited to unload.
According to the report, a Russian cargo ship identified as âAvinskâ had arrived in Haifa about two weeks earlier carrying wheat that Ukrainian authorities say was taken from occupied areas and is worth millions of dollars. The shipment prompted an official protest from Kyiv, which had previously warned Israeli authorities.
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The investigation said the case is not isolated, citing documents, navigation data and satellite imagery indicating that at least two ships carrying such grain reached Israel in 2023, while additional vessels showed signs of attempting to conceal the origin of their cargo.
It also reported records from ports in occupied Ukrainian territories showing more than 30 shipments of wheat destined for Israel, with at least four deliveries reportedly unloaded this year.
In an official statement, Ukraine said it is âunacceptableâ for Israel to allow the import of such goods and confirmed it had requested legal cooperation from Israeli authorities. Kyiv expressed concern that, despite its request, the vessel was permitted to unload its cargo in Haifa.
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