Panormitis Departs Haifa After Importer Rejects Shipment Alleged To Contain Stolen Ukrainian Grain

An Israeli grain importer has refused a shipment that Kyiv says contains wheat stolen by Russia from occupied Ukrainian territories, and the bulk carrier Panormitis has left the port of Haifa.

The Israel Grain Importers Association said the cargo, which Ukrainian officials maintain was taken from occupied areas, "will need to be discharged elsewhere." MarineTraffic tracking data showed the Panormitis sailing out of the Bay of Haifa on Wednesday afternoon, though its next destination was not yet clear.

What Happened

The importer identified in media reports as Zenziper declined to accept the cargo after seeking guidance from the government and receiving no clear directive. A spokesperson for the Israel Grain Importers Association told CNN that the company had not been notified of any irregularities before the media reports emerged and chose to reject the shipment despite the risk of legal action from the supplier.

“The Russian supplier of the wheat shipment will be required to find an alternative destination for its discharge,” the association said in a statement.

Reactions From Kyiv, Jerusalem And Brussels

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly accused Israel of allowing prior shipments of allegedly looted grain to be unloaded and warned that sanctions could be considered against those who enable the practice. Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, welcomed the importer’s decision, saying it sent a clear signal to shipping companies and governments to avoid handling grain Kyiv says was stolen.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry pushed back on the accusation that it had yielded to pressure, saying Kyiv initially delayed providing formal paperwork and evidence and that Kyiv’s most recent request for legal assistance "contained significant factual gaps and did not include any supporting evidence [that the grain was stolen]."

“We condemn all actions that help fund Russia’s illegal war effort and circumvent EU sanctions and remain ready to target such actions by listing individuals and entities in third countries, if necessary,” an EU spokesman told CNN.

Context And Wider Concerns

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion began more than four years ago, Kyiv has repeatedly accused Moscow of systematically stealing agricultural products and obscuring their origins when those goods are sold on global markets. An investigative report in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz found that at least four suspected illicit shipments docked in Israel this year and reported more than 30 such deliveries since 2023.

The European Union has asked Israeli authorities for additional information and warned it could impose sanctions on individuals or entities that help finance Russia’s war by handling allegedly stolen agricultural cargoes.

Relations between Israel and Ukraine have been strained since Russia’s 2022 invasion. Israeli leaders have tried to maintain ties with both Kyiv and Moscow, limiting military assistance to Ukraine mainly to non-lethal humanitarian aid and declining requests to transfer Israeli-made weapons. The dispute over alleged stolen grain comes amid broader regional tensions, including concerns involving Iran.

President Zelensky visited several Gulf states last month — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Jordan — but did not visit Israel.

Reporting credits: Victoria Butenko and Kosta Gak contributed reporting from Kyiv.

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