KYIV, June 27: Ukraine is urging the European Union to sanction Bangladeshi companies accused of importing wheat stolen from Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine. Despite multiple warnings to Bangladesh, the trade continues, says Ukraine’s ambassador to India, Oleksandr Polishchuk.

Since 2014, Russia has controlled key agricultural regions in southern Ukraine. Kyiv accuses Moscow of stealing grain, a claim Russia denies, calling the lands theirs permanently.

Documents obtained by the Associated Press reveal Ukraine’s embassy in New Delhi sent several letters to Bangladesh’s government this year, flagging over 150,000 tonnes of allegedly stolen grain shipped via Russia’s Kavkaz port. Bangladesh has not responded.

Polishchuk warns the EU will be asked to act, as intelligence shows Russian traders blend Ukrainian grain with Russian wheat to mask its origin.

“This is a crime,” he said. “We’ll ask our European partners to take appropriate measures.”

Bangladesh denies importing stolen wheat, with officials stating they block Russian grain from occupied Ukrainian areas. Meanwhile, the EU says vessels linked to these shipments are not yet sanctioned but could face restrictions if proven to be involved.

The grain trade is vital for Ukraine’s economy amid war, but Kyiv is cracking down on illegal exports. Recent seizures of foreign ships accused of transporting stolen grain underscore the stakes.

A Russian trader admits tracking grain origin is tricky: “These aren’t diamonds or gold — impurities don’t reveal their source.”