Image for representation purposes only The Russian bulk carrier Panormitis has failed to unload its grain cargo after being refused entry by both Israel and Türkiye following Ukrainian claims that the shipment came from occupied Ukrainian territories. The vessel left anchorage near the Turkish port of Iskenderun after waiting for permission to enter port, according to Ukrainian maritime monitoring reports and vessel tracking data. Earlier, an Israeli importer also refused to unload the cargo at Haifa. The case has increased scrutiny on Russian grain exports moving through the Black Sea and eastern Mediterranean during the Ukraine war. Ukraine has repeatedly accused Russia of exporting grain from occupied regions including Crimea and Kherson. Ukrainian Ambassador to Israel Yevgen Korniychuk said Kyiv hoped Türkiye would follow Israel’s decision. “We hope they will do the right thing, just as Israel did,” he said. According to Korniychuk, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry and Prosecutor General’s Office were working to persuade Ankara to reject the shipment. The Panormitis arrived off Iskenderun on May 13 after leaving Israeli waters. However, no official Turkish statement had been issued at the time of publication. Ukrainian maritime logistics expert Kateryna Yaresko said on May 17 that the vessel had left the Iskenderun anchorage without unloading cargo. “There are no official messages yet, but the situation looks as if Turkey refused to accept the ship carrying grain from the occupied territories of Ukraine,” she wrote. According to Ukrainian officials and maritime monitoring sources, the vessel was carrying barley and wheat allegedly sourced from occupied Ukrainian territories. Per reports, the ship was carrying around 25,000 tonnes of grain. The dispute had already caused tensions in Israel before the vessel sailed to Türkiye. The Panormitis arrived near the Israeli port of Haifa on April 26 after loading grain near Novorossiysk in Russia. Ukrainian Foreign Minister And