A Cargo Ship Leaves Turkey’s Iskenderun Port Without Unloading Its Cargo

The issue of allegedly stolen Ukrainian grain linked to Russian-controlled areas has resurfaced after a cargo vessel carrying grain arrived at Turkey’s Iskenderun port from Israel’s Haifa port, drawing strong criticism from Ukraine over the handling of such shipments.

Maritime tracking data from MarineTraffic showed the vessel PANORMITIS, accused of transporting grain Ukraine says was taken by Russia, called at Iskenderun before departing without unloading its cargo.

The ship had arrived from Haifa, where it reportedly attempted to unload its shipment. However, a political dispute between Ukraine and Israel prevented the operation after Ukraine objected to Israel’s purchase of grain it says is being taken from occupied Ukrainian territories.

Tracking data indicate the vessel departed Russia’s Gelendzhik port on March 5, 2026, arrived in Haifa in early April, and later left without unloading its cargo. It then sailed to Iskenderun on May 13, 2026, shortly after midnight, before departing the Turkish port on May 16, 2026.

MarineTraffic data updated as of May 19, 2026, showed the cargo vessel PANORMITIS (IMO 9445021), built in 2008 and sailing under the Panamanian flag, in the eastern Mediterranean. The vessel measures 169.37 meters in length and 27.2 meters in width and was listed as fully laden with a draft of up to 9.5 meters, suggesting its grain cargo remained on board.

Ukraine’s ambassador to Israel said he hoped Turkey would “do the right thing, as Israel did,” while the vessel was docked in Iskenderun, referring to Israel’s refusal to accept the shipment.

In a post on April 28, 2026, during the vessel’s stay in Haifa, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized Israel after an investigation by Haaretz reported that a ship carrying allegedly stolen Ukrainian grain had arrived at the port for unloading.

Zelensky said purchasing allegedly stolen property carries legal responsibility and violates Israeli law. He added that Israeli authorities could not be unaware of the shipment’s origin, alleging it was systematically taken from temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories and exported through individuals linked to the occupation.

The shipment triggered a diplomatic dispute between Ukraine and Israel, with Ukraine filing a lawsuit in Israeli courts against the exporting company and vowing to pursue those responsible in international courts. Israel later refused to accept the shipment on April 30.

This is not the first time Ukrainian grain allegedly taken from occupied areas has reached Israel. In 2023, about a year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, at least two vessels carrying such grain arrived in Israel, with at least one reportedly being unloaded there, according to Haaretz.

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