Seizing the PANORMITIS and Its Cargo
Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office has taken legal action to impound the vessel PANORMITIS and its cargo, sending a formal request to Israeli authorities. The ship, which is carrying grain partly sourced from Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territories, is heading to the port of Haifa. This move follows a previous incident involving the vessel ABINSK, which was unloaded in Haifa despite Ukraine’s objections.
Kyiv has asked Israel’s competent bodies to arrest the ship and its cargo, conduct a search, seize documents, collect grain samples, and interrogate the crew. The grain aboard the PANORMITIS was loaded after being transferred from another vessel, and records show the ship illegally entered Ukraine’s closed ports. A pretrial investigation is underway, led by the Main Investigation Department of the Security Service of Ukraine.
Agricultural Exports and Ukraine’s Response
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion began, over 1.7 million tons of agricultural products worth more than 20 billion hryvnias have been illegally removed from Ukraine’s occupied regions. In response, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry summoned Israel’s Ambassador Michael Brodsky and handed him an official protest note. Kyiv also demanded that Israel block the unloading of the PANORMITIS.
The ABINSK, which had previously docked in Haifa, was unloaded between April 12 and 14 despite Ukraine’s earlier warnings. Israel completed the unloading ahead of schedule and allowed the ship to leave. An official reply from Israel arrived on April 20, but the country has no plans to take real action due to a formal denial. Both the ABINSK and the PANORMITIS are part of Russia’s so-called shadow fleet.
Ruslan Kravchenko noted: 'Our documents are already there today,' highlighting the importance of this process.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remarked: 'Buying stolen goods in any normal country is an act that carries legal liability. This applies, in particular, to grain stolen by Russia.'
This situation underscores Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the illegal export of agricultural products from occupied territories and the critical need for international legal cooperation. The actions of Ukrainian authorities also reflect efforts to protect national interests in agriculture and uphold the rule of law globally. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for Ukraine’s future relations with countries involved in agricultural trade, especially in the context of the conflict with Russia.
In light of the ongoing legal actions regarding the PANORMITIS, Ukraine's diplomatic efforts have intensified, as evidenced by the recent summoning of Israel's Ambassador. This incident underscores the broader implications of agricultural smuggling from occupied territories. For a detailed account of the diplomatic tensions surrounding another vessel linked to this issue, read more about Ukraine's formal protest regarding the ship carrying stolen grain in Haifa port here.