Israel Allows Panormitis into Port with Ukrainian Cargo
On April 27 at around 1:07 AM Kyiv time, the vessel Panormitis arrived at the Israeli port of Haifa carrying stolen Ukrainian wheat and barley. The ship holds 6,200 metric tons of wheat and over 19,000 metric tons of barley. Before reaching Israel, the Panormitis had been anchored at the Kavkaz port in Russian territorial waters. The grain was transferred onto the ship on April 18, with paperwork processed at the Russian port of Temryuk.
This is not the first time Israel has overlooked Ukraine's concerns. Earlier, Ukrainian officials demanded action regarding another vessel, the Abinsk, which was also transporting stolen wheat. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Saar, after learning of the Abinsk’s arrival with 43,000 tons of stolen grain. During that conversation, Sybiha stressed that Russia uses proceeds from selling stolen produce to fund its military operations, urging the international community to halt such trade.
Uncertain Origin of the Panormitis Cargo
Circumstantial evidence suggests that all the grain aboard the Panormitis was taken from the Ukrainian ports of Kerch and Berdiansk, though this cannot be confirmed. According to Kateryna Yaresko, a journalist with the SeaKrime project at the Peacemaker Center, proof has only been gathered for one carrier:
- Leonid Pestrikov, who delivered 6,087.68 tons of barley and 954.56 tons of wheat from Berdiansk to the Panormitis.
Meanwhile, a senior Ukrainian diplomatic source stated:
“We are monitoring this new vessel and will not let it slip by; if it docks and unloads, there will be consequences, especially for our bilateral relations.”
The situation has raised serious concerns, as Israel previously allowed the Abinsk—carrying grain from Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territories—to enter Haifa port. The Abinsk had been waiting for clearance since March 23, with permission finally granted on April 12. According to reports, the Abinsk was loaded with 43,765.18 metric tons of wheat while anchored at the Kavkaz port. Israel also permitted that Russian grain ship to leave Haifa, drawing sharp criticism from Ukraine.
This ongoing issue highlights the tangled nature of international relations amid the war in Ukraine and the challenges of curbing trade in stolen goods.
These events call into question Israel’s stance on supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression. A nation striving to balance its international commitments with ties to Moscow now faces mounting pressure from Kyiv to take decisive action against the trafficking of stolen resources. How Israel responds could shape the future of its diplomatic relationship with Ukraine.
The ongoing situation with the Panormitis highlights a troubling pattern of disregard for Ukraine's warnings by Israel. This comes on the heels of Ukraine's direct appeal concerning another ship involved in similar activities. For further insight into Ukraine's diplomatic efforts to address the issue of stolen grain and the implications for international relations, read more about Ukraine's recent outreach to Israel regarding the Russian vessel.