Ukraine Accuses Bangladesh of Importing Stolen Grain

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Ukraine is preparing to request that the European Union impose sanctions on Bangladeshi entities for allegedly importing grain sourced from Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia, according to a top Ukrainian diplomat in South Asia.

This step by Kyiv follows reports that multiple warnings to Dhaka to cease the trade were not answered. Ukraine has accused Russia of stealing grain from its southern agricultural regions, a claim that predates Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Moscow, however, maintains that these territories are now part of Russia and it is exporting its own grain.

Based on documents seen by Reuters, Ukraine's embassy in New Delhi has sent several letters to Bangladesh's foreign ministry this year. They've been pushing Dhaka to reject more than 150,000 tons of grain from Russia's Port of Kavkaz, which Ukraine alleges was stolen.

Ambassador Oleksandr Polishchuk of Ukraine, speaking from India, verified that Dhaka has not answered their correspondence. He announced that Ukraine intends to escalate the situation by sharing its intelligence with the European Union. "We have intelligence that shows Russia is blending grain from occupied Ukrainian lands with its own to conceal its origin," he explained, calling the action a "crime."

He added that Ukraine will ask the EU to take "appropriate measures" based on its investigation report.

When contacted for comment, the foreign ministries of Bangladesh and Russia did not respond, according to Reuters. However, an official from Bangladesh's Food Ministry, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, denied the allegations, stating that Bangladesh does not import grain from Russian-occupied territories and does not purchase "stolen wheat."

Despite the ongoing war, Ukraine's agricultural sector remains a crucial source of export revenue. In a bid to crack down on illegal grain trade, Ukraine has previously detained foreign vessels in its territorial waters on suspicion of carrying stolen grain.

The European Union has already sanctioned 342 vessels as part of Russia's "shadow fleet," which the EU claims helps Moscow circumvent Western sanctions by transporting oil, weapons, and grain. Russia has condemned these sanctions as illegal.

A Ukrainian official told Reuters that Ukrainian law explicitly prohibits farmers in occupied regions from trading with Russian entities.

The Ukrainian embassy's letters to Bangladesh reportedly included the names and registration numbers of ships involved in the transport of the alleged stolen grain, along with their departure and estimated arrival dates between November 2024 and June 2025. A letter dated June 11 warned Bangladesh of "serious sanctions" and stated that accepting the stolen grain would worsen humanitarian suffering. It also warned that the sanctions could be imposed not only on importing companies but also on government officials.

According to EU spokesperson Anita Hipper, no sanctions have been placed on the vessels in question at this time. However, she added that if involvement in undermining Ukraine's food security, including the transportation of stolen grain, is proven, it could lead to future restrictive measures.

Russian officials state that approximately 3% of the country's total grain production in 2024 originated from territories under Russian control, excluding Crimea. Separately, data from the Russian grain transport company Rusagrotrans shows that Bangladesh was the fourth-biggest purchaser of Russian wheat in May 2024.