Ukraine will intensify efforts to counter Russia’s shadow grain fleet by initiating new sanctions in the European Union, the Group of Seven (G7), and other jurisdictions against all those involved in the theft of Ukrainian grain from occupied territories and its illegal trade, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.
“We will work with partners to update relevant sanctions lists and ensure targeted and strict restrictions,” Sybiha wrote on X on Wednesday.
He reported that, according to available data, only between January and April 2026, 25 vessels of the Russian grain fleet made about 50 direct voyages from closed Ukrainian ports in temporarily occupied territories to ports in third countries.
“Most of these voyages were intended to transport illegally obtained grain cargoes. During this period, more than 850,000 tonnes of grain were exported from the occupied territories of Ukraine. More than 50% of this volume was illegally taken from a single closed port in the city of Sevastopol. Another 13% of the total volume was shipped from ports on the Sea of Azov — Mariupol and Berdiansk,” the minister said.
According to Sybiha, Ukraine has information about these vessels, companies, owners, and other details, as well as how Russia tries to evade responsibility by switching off transponders, falsifying coordinates, and carrying out ship-to-ship transfers to conceal the illegal sale of stolen Ukrainian grain.
“We will not leave this without attention… We will pursue Russia’s shadow grain fleet and its accomplices across all geographical boundaries,” the Foreign Minister emphasized.
He also noted that Ukraine has painful historical experience related to grain theft.
“Our nation survived the genocide of famine — the Holodomor, during which grain was taken from our people. We warn all entities and countries that we will respond firmly to any theft of our grain,” Sybiha stated.
