On a daily basis in Ukraine, Russian occupiers steal valuable grain and set wheat fields on fire, fueling a global food crisis that affects millions of people in vulnerable parts of the world.

Rescue services have declared that Russian troops are consistently burning crop fields in the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine. On June 21st, just in one day alone, Mykolaiv authorities recorded 80 hectares of scorched wheat fields. Due to their highly professional work, Ukrainian rescuers prevented this fire from spreading over to another 215 hectares of grain.

In addition to the continuous farmland fires, Russia is shelling fields that contain unharvested agricultural products. In order to inflict more damage, Russian soldiers also destroy agricultural machinery. This terrorist state has already stolen approximately 500,000 tons of grain from the occupied territories.

Grain Harvest Courtesy of Pixabay

It must be emphasized that the harvest theft in Ukraine isn’t Russia’s first attempt to create a food crisis in Eastern Europe. Similar actions by the Soviet Union’s government led to the largest famine (called “Holodomor”) in Ukraine’s history back in 1932-1933. Scholars reported that between 5 and 7 million victims died from hunger due to the Soviet policy of agricultural collectivization.

Since Ukraine became a democratic country in 1991, Ukraine has become one of the world’s largest grain exporters. As of 2022, Ukraine is ranked among the Top 10 largest wheat export countries. Last year, our country exported more than 50 million tons of grain, 12 million of which were delivered to Asia. In terms of statistics, generally, around 30% of all Ukrainian agricultural products are shipped to European Union countries, approximately 30% go to North Africa, and 30% are exported to Asia. Overall, Ukraine holds 12% of the world’s wheat, 15% of corn, and 50% of sunflower seeds.

Before the Russian invasion, Ukraine played the role of a major world breadbasket. Now the country is turning into a food desert.

Russian authorities are very well aware that 4.5 million tons of agricultural goods have been exported through Ukrainian ports. They perfectly understand Ukraine’s crucial role in the world supply chain. Unfortunately, because of Russian madness, many second- and third-world countries around the world will face a huge food shortage. The war will affect countless European, African, and Asian families and their grocery habits. Ukraine, which used to be so hospitable to guests from around the world, now has nothing to offer.

Ukraine assumed that once the occupiers began to steal last year’s harvest and export it, they would start burning the fields. Unfortunately, this proved to be true. It’s the motto of the Russian soldier:
“What is not stolen must be destroyed.” Now, around the clock, Ukrainians have to stand on duty in the fields in order to react to and contain a fire before it’s too late. The wildlife fires spread too fast. This is very dangerous since they can’t know when and from where the bombs will come; everyone is at risk of shelling from an enemy who cannot be seen. But Ukrainians realize that they must protect their land and save the harvest. Therefore, despite the war, they go out and do their duty—day after day, night after night. They cannot let these last vital grains go up in flames!

In early 2022, 276 million people worldwide were already faced with acute hunger. This number is expected to rise by 47 million if the war in Ukraine does not stop. The greatest increase in hunger was recorded in sub-Saharan Africa. Before the war, the food produced by Ukraine was enough to feed 400 million people worldwide. Exports were carried out through seven Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea, which are now blocked by the Russian fleet!

While diplomats are dealing with the issue of grain exports, Restore Ukraine is ensuring that people in need have enough food supplies for at least one week. Every day we are looking for new sources; every day our chefs go into the kitchen facility and prepare delicious meals! We want to thank everyone for supporting local residents who became isolated from the rest of Ukraine and the world. Your help is very important now—more important than ever. Thanks to you, children, women, and the elderly have the opportunity to survive!