Latest news with #OleksandrPolishchuk
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Russia has conducted direct assault on Ukraine's culture': Ukrainian ambassador
Ambassador of Ukraine to India Oleksandr Polishchuk (File photo) Ukrainian ambassador Oleksandr Polishchuk responded to his Russian counterpart's letter ('Ukraine has repressed Russian-speaking people', July 10). The Russian ambassador's letter was in response to one story in TOI 's eight-part series on the price of war and fight for peace. Excerpts: Echoing the Kremlin's playbook, the Russian ambassador spreads sheer misinformation. Casting the aggressor as the victim is a classic product of Russia's propaganda machine. And that is exactly why we counter these statements with facts. In 2022, Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine - and with it, a direct assault on Ukrainian culture. As of June 2025, Ukraine's ministry of culture and information policy reports that more than 1,400 cultural heritage sites have been damaged or destroyed by Russian forces. Unesco has so far verified 501 of these sites, including museums, churches, libraries and monuments. At its 46th session, held in New Delhi in July 2024, the Unesco World Heritage Committee officially recognised Russia's invasion as a direct threat to Ukraine's cultural heritage. The committee called on Russia to refrain from any actions that may damage Ukrainian World Heritage sites - including Saint Sophia Cathedral and Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, and the Historic Centre of Lviv, all now listed as World Heritage in Danger. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 노안+백내장 안보이는 답답함! 더는 방치 하지 마세요! 부산백내장노안 전문안과 더 알아보기 Undo Additionally, museums have been looted. Schools and churches bombed. Children deported and subjected to forced indoctrination to erase their Ukrainian identity. Since Russia's illegal occupation of Crimea in 2014, indigenous Crimean Tatars have been targeted with over 110 cultural artifacts being looted and historic landmarks damaged. The Russian Orthodox Church has become a weapon of this cultural war. It sends clergy to occupied Ukrainian territories to bless aggression, justify violence, and spread propaganda under the guise of faith. But repression does not erase Ukrainian identity. It only strengthens our resolve to defend it.
India.com
29-06-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Ukraine accuses Bangladesh of 'theft', to appeal European Union for...
Ukraine accuses Bangladesh of 'theft', to appeal European Union for… Ukraine on Saturday approached the European Union and requested it to impose sanctions on Bangladeshi organisations that are importing wheat from Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories. Kyiv stated that issuing warnings to Bangladesh has had no effect on these organisations. Hence, the war-torn country has no option but to approach the European Union. Notably, the Russian Army has captured a large part of the southern regions of Ukraine since 2014. Farmers there produce wheat that is now exported by Moscow. Most of the wheat is bought by Bangladesh. Now, Ukraine has accused Russia of wheat theft. A Russian official responded to the allegations and said that there has been no theft of grain because the areas are now part of Russia and will remain part of the country forever. Ukraine Sent Several Letters To Bangladesh As per reports, the Ukraine embassy which is located in Delhi, sent letters requesting Dhaka to reject more than 150,000 tonnes of grain allegedly stolen and shipped from the Russian port of Kavkaz. Ukraine's ambassador to India stated that Kyiv has yet to receive a response from Dhaka regarding a confidential diplomatic communication concerning grain shipments. Ukraine's intelligence suggests that Russian entities are blending grain from occupied Ukrainian territories with Russian wheat before export, prompting Ukraine to further investigate the matter. Ukrainian Ambassador to India, Oleksandr Polishchuk, stated that Dhaka has not responded to a confidential diplomatic communication regarding grain shipments. Ukraine will now further investigate, as its intelligence indicates that Russian entities are blending grain from occupied Ukrainian territories with Russian wheat before export. Ukrainian Ambassador Termed It A Crime 'This is a crime,' Polishchuk said in an interview at the Ukrainian embassy in New Delhi. 'We will share our investigation with our EU colleagues, and we will request them to take appropriate measures,' he said. Bangladesh Food Ministry Issued Statement A Bangladeshi food ministry official stated that Bangladesh would have prohibited Russian grain imports had they originated from occupied Ukrainian land. he said that the country does not import stolen wheat. It is to be noted that, amid the ongoing war with Russia, the agriculture sector remains one of the main sources of income for Ukraine, which supplies grain, vegetable oil and oilseeds to foreign markets. In April this year, Ukraine detained a foreign ship and alleged that the vessel was involved in illegal trade. EU Imposes Sanctions On 32 Ships The European Union has sanctioned 342 vessels involved in Russia's 'shadow fleet,' alleging these ships help Russia evade Western sanctions on oil, weapons, and grain exports. Russia maintains that these sanctions are unlawful.
Arab Times
27-06-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
Grain Theft Sparks New Ukraine-EU Diplomatic Pressure on Bangladesh
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.'
Business Recorder
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Ukraine calls for EU sanctions on Bangladeshi entities for import of ‘stolen grain'
NEW DELHI/DHAKA: Ukraine plans to ask the European Union to sanction Bangladeshi entities it says are importing wheat taken from Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia, after its warnings to Dhaka failed to stop the trade, a top Ukrainian diplomat in South Asia said. Russian forces have occupied large parts of Ukraine's southern agricultural regions since 2014 and Kyiv has accused Russia of stealing its grain even before the 2022 invasion. Russian officials say there is no theft of grain involved as the territories previously considered part of Ukraine are now part of Russia and will remain so forever. According to documents provided to Reuters by people familiar with the matter, the Ukraine Embassy in New Delhi sent several letters to Bangladesh's foreign affairs ministry this year, asking them to reject more than 150,000 tonnes of grain allegedly stolen and shipped from Russian port of Kavkaz. Asked about the confidential diplomatic communication, Ukraine's ambassador to India, Oleksandr Polishchuk, said Dhaka had not responded to the communication and Kyiv will now escalate the matter as its intelligence showed entities in Russia mix grain procured from occupied Ukrainian territories with Russian wheat before shipping. 'It's a crime,' Polishchuk said in an interview at Ukraine's embassy in New Delhi. 'We will share our investigation with our European Union colleagues, and we will kindly ask them to take the appropriate measures.' Ukraine's diplomatic tussle with Bangladeshi authorities has not been previously reported. The Bangladesh and Russian foreign ministries did not respond to requests for comment. A Bangladeshi food ministry official said Dhaka bars imports from Russia if the origin of the grain is from occupied Ukrainian territory, adding that the country imports no stolen wheat. Amid the war with Russia, the agricultural sector remains one of the main sources of export earnings for Ukraine, supplying grain, vegetable oil and oilseeds to foreign markets. In April, Ukraine detained a foreign vessel in its territorial waters, alleging it was involved in the illegal trade of stolen grain, and last year seized a foreign cargo ship and detained its captain on similar suspicions. The EU has so far sanctioned 342 ships that are part of Russia's so-called shadow fleet, which the bloc says enable Moscow to circumvent Western restrictions to move oil, arms and grain. Russia says Western sanctions are illegal. 'Not diamonds or gold' A Ukraine official told Reuters Ukrainian law prohibits any voluntary trade between Ukrainian producers, including grain farmers in the occupied territories, and Russian entities. The Ukraine Embassy has sent four letters to Bangladesh's government, reviewed by Reuters, in which it shared vessel names and their registration numbers involved in the alleged trade of moving the grain from the Crimean ports of Sevastopol and Kerch, occupied by Russia since 2014, and Berdiansk, which is under Moscow's control since 2022, to Kavkaz in Russia. The letters stated the departure and tentative arrival dates of the ships that left from Kavkaz for Bangladesh between November 2024 and June 2025. The June 11 letter said Bangladesh can face 'serious consequences' of sanctions for taking deliveries of 'stolen grain', and that such purchases fuel 'humanitarian suffering.' The sanctions 'may extend beyond importing companies and could also target government officials and the leadership of ministries and agencies who knowingly facilitate or tolerate such violations,' the letter added. In a statement to Reuters, Anitta Hipper, EU Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said the vessels in question were not currently subject to any restrictive measures. The sanctions regime was designed to act against activities that undermine the food security of Ukraine including transportation of 'stolen Ukrainian grain' and 'any proven involvement of vessels in shipping stolen Ukrainian grain could provide the basis for future restrictive measures,' she added. The Russia-controlled territories, excluding Crimea, accounted for about 3% of the total Russian grain harvest in 2024, according to Reuters' estimates based on official Russian data. Russian grain transporter Rusagrotrans says Bangladesh was the fourth largest buyer of Russian wheat in May. Ambassador Polishchuk told Reuters their intelligence shows Russia mixes its grain with that from occupied Ukrainian territories to avoid detection. A Russian trader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that when the grain is loaded for export at a Russian port, it is very difficult to track its origin. 'These are not diamonds or gold. The composition of impurities does not allow for identification,' the person said.
Reuters
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Ukraine calls for EU sanctions on Bangladeshi entities for import of 'stolen grain'
NEW DELHI/DHAKA, June 27 (Reuters) - Ukraine plans to ask the European Union to sanction Bangladeshi entities it says are importing wheat taken from Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia, after its warnings to Dhaka failed to stop the trade, a top Ukrainian diplomat in South Asia said. Russian forces have occupied large parts of Ukraine's southern agricultural regions since 2014 and Kyiv has accused Russia of stealing its grain even before the 2022 invasion. Russian officials say there is no theft of grain involved as the territories previously considered part of Ukraine are now part of Russia and will remain so forever. According to documents provided to Reuters by people familiar with the matter, the Ukraine Embassy in New Delhi sent several letters to Bangladesh's foreign affairs ministry this year, asking them to reject more than 150,000 tonnes of grain allegedly stolen and shipped from Russian port of Kavkaz. Asked about the confidential diplomatic communication, Ukraine's ambassador to India, Oleksandr Polishchuk, said Dhaka had not responded to the communication and Kyiv will now escalate the matter as its intelligence showed entities in Russia mix grain procured from occupied Ukrainian territories with Russian wheat before shipping. "It's a crime," Polishchuk said in an interview at Ukraine's embassy in New Delhi. "We will share our investigation with our European Union colleagues, and we will kindly ask them to take the appropriate measures." Ukraine's diplomatic tussle with Bangladeshi authorities has not been previously reported. The Bangladesh and Russian foreign ministries did not respond to requests for comment. A Bangladeshi food ministry official said Dhaka bars imports from Russia if the origin of the grain is from occupied Ukrainian territory, adding that the country imports no stolen wheat. Amid the war with Russia, the agricultural sector remains one of the main sources of export earnings for Ukraine, supplying grain, vegetable oil and oilseeds to foreign markets. In April, Ukraine detained a foreign vessel in its territorial waters, alleging it was involved in the illegal trade of stolen grain, and last year seized a foreign cargo ship and detained its captain on similar suspicions. The EU has so far sanctioned 342 ships that are part of Russia's so-called shadow fleet, which the bloc says enable Moscow to circumvent Western restrictions to move oil, arms and grain. Russia says Western sanctions are illegal. A Ukraine official told Reuters Ukrainian law prohibits any voluntary trade between Ukrainian producers, including grain farmers in the occupied territories, and Russian entities. The Ukraine Embassy has sent four letters to Bangladesh's government, reviewed by Reuters, in which it shared vessel names and their registration numbers involved in the alleged trade of moving the grain from the Crimean ports of Sevastopol and Kerch, occupied by Russia since 2014, and Berdiansk, which is under Moscow's control since 2022, to Kavkaz in Russia. The letters stated the departure and tentative arrival dates of the ships that left from Kavkaz for Bangladesh between November 2024 and June 2025. The June 11 letter said Bangladesh can face "serious consequences" of sanctions for taking deliveries of "stolen grain", and that such purchases fuel "humanitarian suffering." The sanctions "may extend beyond importing companies and could also target government officials and the leadership of ministries and agencies who knowingly facilitate or tolerate such violations," the letter added. In a statement to Reuters, Anitta Hipper, EU Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said the vessels in question were not currently subject to any restrictive measures. The sanctions regime was designed to act against activities that undermine the food security of Ukraine including transportation of "stolen Ukrainian grain" and "any proven involvement of vessels in shipping stolen Ukrainian grain could provide the basis for future restrictive measures," she added. The Russia-controlled territories, excluding Crimea, accounted for about 3% of the total Russian grain harvest in 2024, according to Reuters' estimates based on official Russian data. Russian grain transporter Rusagrotrans says Bangladesh was the fourth largest buyer of Russian wheat in May. Ambassador Polishchuk told Reuters their intelligence shows Russia mixes its grain with that from occupied Ukrainian territories to avoid detection. A Russian trader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that when the grain is loaded for export at a Russian port, it is very difficult to track its origin. "These are not diamonds or gold. The composition of impurities does not allow for identification," the person said.
