On April 30, 2026, Ukraine called on Israel to seize a ship it claims is carrying grain stolen from Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia. The vessel, identified as the MV Aries, is reportedly anchored in Israeli waters.
Ukrainian officials allege the grain was taken from farms in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, which Russia has occupied since 2022. Kyiv has provided documentation to Israeli authorities, including satellite imagery and shipping manifests, to support its claim.
Israel has not yet commented publicly on the request. The move follows similar actions by other countries, such as Greece and Turkey, which have detained ships suspected of carrying Ukrainian grain illegally exported by Russia.
The incident highlights ongoing efforts by Ukraine to disrupt Russian exports of agricultural products from occupied areas, which Kyiv considers theft. The United Nations has previously condemned the looting of Ukrainian grain by Russian forces.
