Stolen Wheat Scandal: Ukraine Blasts Bangladesh for Fueling Putin’s War

The Ukrainian government has formally called on the European Union to impose sanctions on Bangladeshi companies allegedly involved in importing wheat from Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories.

Kyiv accuses Dhaka of turning a blind eye to multiple warnings regarding grain it claims was stolen from occupied Ukrainian regions and exported via Russian-controlled ports.

Ukraine says the trade not only undermines its sovereignty but also fuels the ongoing humanitarian crisis caused by the war with Russia.

“It’s a crime,” said Oleksandr Polishchuk, Ukraine’s Ambassador to India.

“We will share our investigation with EU colleagues and kindly ask them to take appropriate measures.”

Ukraine claims that since November 2024, more than 150,000 tonnes of wheat linked to occupied Ukrainian land was transported from Russia’s Kavkaz port to Bangladesh.

Kyiv believes the grain originated from ports under Russian military control, such as:

• Sevastopol and Kerch in Crimea
• Berdiansk in southeastern Ukraine

Ukraine also says that Russian exporters have been mixing Ukrainian grain with Russian wheat to obscure the product’s origin — a tactic that complicates international tracing and enforcement.

Documents reviewed by Reuters show that the Ukrainian Embassy in New Delhi has sent four diplomatic letters to Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry, identifying vessels, shipping routes, and estimated delivery timelines.

In a letter dated June 11, 2025, Kyiv warned that Bangladesh could face “serious consequences” under EU sanctions.

The letter stated that penalties could extend beyond importing firms and also target government officials and regulators who knowingly tolerate or facilitate such transactions.

“Such purchases not only violate international law but also prolong the humanitarian suffering in Ukraine,” the letter said.

While Bangladeshi authorities have not publicly responded to Ukraine’s letters, a senior official at the Ministry of Food told Reuters that Bangladesh does not import grain from Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories.

“We only accept wheat from legitimate sources. No stolen grain has entered our ports,” the official claimed.

European Union spokesperson Anitta Hipper confirmed that none of the vessels named by Ukraine are currently sanctioned.

However, she said any “proven involvement in shipping stolen Ukrainian grain” could form the basis for future restrictive measures.

The EU has already sanctioned over 340 Russian vessels, part of what it calls a “shadow fleet” used to dodge sanctions and smuggle commodities including oil, arms, and now allegedly, grain.

Ukraine’s agricultural exports, particularly grain, vegetable oil, and oilseeds, are vital to its economy amid the ongoing conflict.

Since the Russian invasion, Kyiv has detained multiple foreign vessels for allegedly carrying stolen cargo.

A Russian trader told Reuters that tracking grain origins is technically difficult:

“These aren’t diamonds or gold. Once mixed, grain is almost impossible to identify.”

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