Ukraine's Ambassador to Israel, Yevgen Korniychuk, has expressed growing frustration over alleged imports of grain taken from Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories and shipped to Israel under what Kyiv says are false Russian certificates of origin. The Ukrainian Embassy has filed a formal complaint with Israeli police seeking criminal proceedings against traders, exporters, and other parties allegedly involved in the shipments.

Korniychuk argued that the grain was loaded in occupied Ukrainian ports such as Sevastopol and Mariupol, and said Ukraine has provided satellite imagery and intelligence to support its claims. He accused Russian actors of attempting to obscure the grain's origin by disabling vessel tracking systems and routing cargo through third countries.

The dispute has strained relations between Kyiv and Jerusalem, with Ukraine requesting court orders to seize vessels and cargo. Israeli authorities have said there was insufficient evidence to prove the grain originated in Ukraine, and that the cargo in question had already been distributed, a claim the ambassador disputes.

While emphasizing that Ukraine is not targeting Israel as a state, Korniychuk urged Israeli officials to distinguish between legitimate trade and what he described as stolen goods. He warned that Ukraine is prepared to pursue legal action and noted that European partners would support sanctions if imposed, framing the issue as a test of international legal cooperation and democratic principles.