Ukraine Secures the Withdrawal of the Panormitis to Neutral Waters: Details

30 April 20:20

A vessel named Panormitis, which was likely carrying grain stolen from Ukraine, has left Israeli territorial waters and entered neutral waters.

This was reported by Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".

Kravchenko noted that the ship’s departure may indicate an awareness of the risks, particularly the possible seizure of the ship and its cargo.

“Such behavior may indicate an awareness of the risk of measures being taken against the vessel and its cargo to ensure criminal proceedings, in particular, seizure,” he explained.

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Legal Actions and International Cooperation

The Prosecutor General added that the competent authorities in Israel have begun executing a request received as part of international legal cooperation. This was made possible thanks to materials provided by the Ukrainian side.

“The fact of the offense has been established at the international level,” Kravchenko emphasized.

He also stressed that the vessel’s departure into neutral waters does not mean the end of criminal proceedings or the release of those involved from liability:

“The further movement of the vessel, the cargo, and the actions of individuals involved in this scheme will remain subject to legal action in any jurisdiction that recognizes the rule of law and respects Ukraine’s sovereignty.”

Kravchenko assured that Ukraine will continue its legal proceedings, monitor the movements of all Russian vessels, and utilize all available mechanisms of international legal cooperation to seize assets and hold all participants in the scheme accountable.

Position of the Israeli Prosecutor’s Office

Israeli police have asked the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office to provide evidence that the PANORMITIS was transporting stolen Ukrainian grain, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported in Tel Aviv.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry claims that Ukraine did not provide any evidence in its request, and that the facts contained “significant gaps.” The country is also requesting additional information.

“Israel upholds the rule of law, and its authorities will always act in accordance with the law,” the statement reads.

A new episode involving the export of stolen Ukrainian grain

On April 26, the Israeli media outlet Haaretz reported that the vessel PANORMITIS, carrying grain likely stolen from the occupied territories of Ukraine, arrived in the bay of the Israeli city of Haifa and was awaiting permission to enter the port. In total, according to Haaretz, four ships have unloaded stolen Ukrainian grain in Haifa since the beginning of 2026.

As a result, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Israeli ambassador.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga also noted that the Foreign Ministry had already contacted Israel on April 15 regarding a similar vessel that had delivered grain to Haifa, but there was no adequate response to the incident. At that time, Israel informed Ukraine that it was too late to detain the Russian vessel, as it had already left the port of Haifa.

Israeli ForeignMinister Gideon Saarresponded to Sibiga’s post on X:

“Diplomatic relations are not conducted on Twitter.”

On April 28, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Israeli Ambassador Michael Brodsky and handed him a note of protest over the fact that grain exported by Russia from the occupied territories of Ukraine continues to arrive in Israel.

As early as April 29, Ukraine sent the Israeli side a package of documents to seize the vessel.

Following this incident , the EU is considering imposing sanctions against Israel for purchasing grain, and Ukraine is prepared to adopt similar measures.

What is known about the export of grain from Ukraine’s occupied territories

Since the start of the full-scale war, Ukraine has repeatedly accused Russia of exporting grain from the occupied territories.

Such grain enters international markets via third countries or under falsified documents.

Kyiv is attempting to block these shipments through diplomatic channels and international organizations.

Which countries exported wheat from the occupied territories

Ships carrying Ukrainian grain exported from the occupied territories have been spotted in ports of various countries. Among them, the following are most frequently mentioned: