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Dhaka, June 27, 2025 – Ukraine has lodged a complaint with the European Union, urging sanctions against Bangladeshi companies accused of purchasing grain allegedly stolen from Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia. The Ukrainian Embassy in New Delhi has repeatedly raised the issue with Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry but claims to have received no response, prompting Kyiv to escalate the matter to the EU.
According to Reuters, Ukraine alleges that the grain, produced in regions occupied by Russia since 2014 and further seized during the 2022 military invasion, was purchased by Bangladeshi firms. Ukraine has labeled this grain as "stolen." Russia, however, denies these claims, asserting that the territories are now part of Russia and the grain belongs to them.
The Ukrainian Embassy in New Delhi sent multiple letters to Bangladesh, requesting the suspension of imports of 150,000 tons of wheat shipped from Russia’s Kavkaz port. Ukrainian Ambassador to India, Oleksandr Polishchuk, told Reuters that intelligence reports indicate Russian companies mixed grain from occupied Ukrainian territories with Russian grain for export. "This is a crime," Polishchuk said, adding that Kyiv will share its intelligence with EU partners to push for action.
A Bangladeshi food official, speaking to Reuters, denied importing stolen grain, stating that restrictions are in place against purchasing wheat from Ukraine’s occupied regions. Ukraine provided Bangladesh with details of ships allegedly transporting the grain, including vessel names, registration numbers, and schedules from November 2024 to June 2025. In a June 11 letter, Ukraine warned Bangladesh of "severe consequences" and increased "humanitarian suffering" if the grain imports continued.
The EU’s foreign affairs spokesperson, Anitta Hipper, clarified that no sanctions currently apply to the ships mentioned by Ukraine. A Russian trader noted that determining the origin of grain during loading is challenging, making it difficult to distinguish between Russian and Ukrainian produce.
This diplomatic tension between Ukraine and Bangladesh, previously unreported, highlights the broader geopolitical fallout of Russia’s actions in Ukraine and their impact on global trade.
AI/MR
