Overview
- Ukraine says the Russian bulk carrier Abinsk unloaded about 44,000 tons of wheat in Haifa during April 12–14.
- Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said it has asked Israel to arrest the shipment under a Ukrainian court order and a formal request for legal help.
- Kyiv, which notified Israeli authorities on March 23 about the ship and the cargo’s suspected origin, said the vessel was still permitted to enter and discharge.
- Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar told his Ukrainian counterpart it was too late to act because the ship had left Haifa, and maritime tracking shows it sailing toward the Dardanelles.
- Ukraine calls Abinsk part of a Russian shadow fleet that uses opaque routes and ship-to-ship transfers near Russia’s Port of Kavkaz to move grain from occupied areas, and officials say Russia has taken millions of tons since 2014 and 2022.