Kyiv: In a new diplomatic twist, Ukraine has called on the European Union to impose sanctions on Bangladeshi companies and officials allegedly involved in importing grain looted from Ukrainian territories now under Russian control. Ukrainian authorities claim that these imports are part of a broader illegal trade network operated by Russia to profit from occupied regions amidst the ongoing war.
According to Ukrainian officials, the grain in question originates from areas in southern and eastern Ukraine that were seized by Russian forces following the full-scale invasion in 2022. Russia is reportedly mixing this stolen grain with its own and exporting it via the Black Sea, mainly through the Russian port of Kavkaz. This tactic, Ukraine says, is aimed at concealing the grain's true origin and deceiving international buyers.
Oleksandr Polishchuk, Ukraine’s ambassador to India who also oversees relations with Bangladesh—has taken a firm stance, describing the trade as "a crime" and urging the EU to act decisively. In his remarks, Polishchuk said that the matter goes beyond commercial transactions and includes "the deliberate participation of companies and possibly public officials in purchasing looted goods," which he argues should make them targets for European sanctions.
Bangladesh, for its part, has denied knowingly importing stolen grain. Officials from the Bangladeshi Food Ministry stated that their grain purchases were made through open tenders and that imports from Russia were conducted transparently. They also insist that national regulations prohibit the import of grain from any disputed or occupied region, including Ukrainian territories under Russian control.
Nonetheless, Ukraine says it has sent at least four diplomatic notes to Dhaka since early 2024, warning about the risks of trading with Russia in the context of potentially looted Ukrainian agricultural goods. Despite these warnings, Bangladesh imported more than 150,000 tonnes of wheat from Russia between July and November 2024 before the shipments halted for unspecified reasons. No further imports have been recorded since then.
The issue comes as the European Union continues to tighten sanctions on Russia’s economic machinery, especially its shadow maritime fleet an unofficial network of ships used to bypass sanctions and deliver energy or goods to neutral or cooperative markets. Recent EU sanctions have blacklisted 342 vessels, some of which are believed to have transported stolen grain. Ukrainian officials are urging Brussels to extend these measures to foreign buyers, such as those in Bangladesh, who allegedly fuel this illegal trade.
Analysts believe that if the EU were to sanction Bangladeshi entities over these transactions, it could set a precedent that would deter other nations from engaging in similar deals. It would also underscore Ukraine’s growing use of diplomatic and legal tools to target what it describes as “war economy” networks sustaining Russia’s occupation efforts.
As the war in Ukraine continues into its third year, the battle for sovereignty is being fought not only on the battlefield but also in the global marketplace. For Ukraine, defending its agricultural output long a pillar of its economy and global food supply has become a matter of survival. The alleged theft and resale of its grain abroad adds yet another layer of complexity to the already volatile geopolitical landscape.