Ukraine's legal assistance request contains significant factual gaps, includes no supporting evidence – Israel’s Foreign Ministry

Israel’s Foreign Ministry has stated that Ukraine’s legal assistance request concerning a vessel carrying grain stolen by Russia was submitted on the evening of April 28 and contained significant factual gaps, including no supporting evidence.

"The Israel Police reached out to the Ukrainian Prosecution with a request to provide additional information and supporting evidence, as required by Israeli law. Meanwhile, we were informed that the vessel that was supposed to enter the port next week decided to depart from Israel’s territorial waters," the ministry said in a post on X.

The ministry stated that Israel upholds the rule of law and that its authorities will always act in accordance with it.

As previously reported, on April 28 Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry officially summoned the Israeli ambassador to receive a note of protest over a second vessel carrying stolen Ukrainian grain that had arrived in Haifa.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated that the country is verifying the facts cited in the investigation and is maintaining contact with the Ukrainian side through diplomatic channels. Ukraine also filed a formal protest over the admission of a Russian vessel for unloading at the port of Haifa.

The Office of the Prosecutor General submitted to the Israeli side a package of documents seeking the arrest of the Russian vessel Panormitis and its cargo, which investigators believe may form part of a scheme to launder illegally exported Ukrainian grain. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the request "is being considered by the relevant authorities."

Between April 12 and 14, the Russian bulk carrier Abinsk unloaded stolen Ukrainian grain at the port of Haifa. At the time, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry stated that it had warned the Israeli side about the possible origin of the grain on board and stressed the inadmissibility of such operations.

Kyiv also submitted a request to Israel for international legal assistance to secure the arrest of that stolen grain consignment.