Egyptian Port of Abu Qir Authorizes Unloading of 27,000 Tons of Stolen Ukrainian Wheat From Asomatos Ship

This is the fourth case of Russia laundering stolen Ukrainian grain through Egyptian ports since April.

Despite an official request from Ukraine, the Egyptian port of Abu Qir has granted permission to unload 26,900 tons of stolen Ukrainian wheat from the ship Asomatos, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has said, as reported by the CFTS portal.

“Despite repeated warnings, the Asomatos was allowed to unload 26,900 tons of stolen Ukrainian wheat in Abu Qir. This is already the fourth case of Russia laundering stolen Ukrainian grain in Egyptian ports since April,” Sybiha said.

He added that the Asomatos was permitted to unload even though Ukraine’s Prosecutor General had submitted a formal request for legal assistance to the Egyptian Ministry of Justice just four days earlier regarding this illegal cargo, providing all the necessary data and legal grounds for the arrest of the ship and its cargo. The sanctioned company, Agro-Fregat, exported the grain through occupied Crimea.

“For many years, Ukraine has played the role of a reliable guarantor of Egypt’s food security, and we do not understand why our Egyptian partners are repaying us by continuing to accept stolen Ukrainian grain,” Sybiha said.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry called on the Egyptian partners to uphold international law, honor their own promises and commitments to Ukraine, and adhere to the principles of bilateral relations.