Russian Bulk Carrier Diverts Course Amidst Controversy
The Russian bulk carrier Mikhail Nenashev, which has been implicated in transporting stolen Ukrainian grain, has altered its route and is now en route to the Syrian port of Tartus. This development was reported by Kateryna Yaresko, a journalist with the SeaKrime investigative project at the Myrotvorets Center. The vessel was initially headed for Egypt, where it was believed to be delivering grain sourced from occupied Ukrainian territories.
The Mikhail Nenashev is currently carrying 27,400 tons of wheat, which was loaded at the Avlita grain terminal in Sevastopol between April 22 and April 25. The grain originates from the occupied regions of Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Crimea. Notably, the ship is under sanctions imposed by Ukraine, the European Union, and Switzerland due to its involvement in the illicit grain trade. This situation unfolds despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent assurances to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi that Egypt would cease importing stolen Ukrainian grain.
Syria has been actively importing stolen Ukrainian grain, facilitated by a state-owned company, even following the overthrow of the Russian-aligned regime of Bashar al-Assad. Additionally, another vessel, the Sparta, operated by the Russian military supply company Oboronlogistika, is also heading to Tartus, further complicating the maritime landscape in the region.
Diplomatic Tensions Emerge Over Grain Shipments
The situation surrounding the Mikhail Nenashev is compounded by a recent diplomatic conflict between Ukraine and Israel. On April 26, Israeli media reported that the Panormitis vessel, suspected of carrying stolen Ukrainian grain, had arrived in Haifa and was awaiting port entry. Since the beginning of 2026, four vessels have reportedly unloaded stolen grain in Haifa, prompting a strong response from the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha summoned the Israeli ambassador to express Ukraine’s concerns. He highlighted that Ukraine had previously reached out to Israel regarding similar incidents but received inadequate responses. In a statement, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar remarked that diplomatic relations should not be conducted via social media and criticized Sybiha for not formally requesting legal assistance before making public statements.
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Following these exchanges, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry issued a note of protest to Israeli Ambassador Michael Brodsky over the continued arrival of grain shipments from occupied Ukrainian territories. On April 29, Ukraine submitted a package of documents to Israel aimed at securing the arrest of the vessel involved in the grain trade.
In light of these developments, the European Union is contemplating sanctions against Israel for its grain purchases, while Ukraine is prepared to take similar actions. From January to April 2026, it has been reported that 25 ships from the Russian shadow grain fleet illegally departed from occupied Ukrainian ports nearly 50 times, exporting over 850,000 tons of grain, with a significant portion originating from Sevastopol.
