Ukrainian farmers who have lost their farms due to the occupation and war continue to fight not only for survival but also against banks that demand repayment of loans. They are still waiting for the adoption of draft law No. 12148. The document, which provides for a temporary suspending on debt collection for farmers from the war zones and occupied territories, remains under consideration in the Verkhovna Rada.

We left the occupation, but the debts remained

Serhii Kovdria, a member of the Ukrainian Agri Council from Zaporizhzhia region, said that his farm, Saienko, had lost everything because of the occupation.

“Almost 1,500 hectares of land, machinery, crops - everything has remained under occupation. We were engaged in livestock and crop production. There were almost 200 cows on the farm. As a result, we were forced to sell the animals for meat because we had nothing to feed them and pay salaries to people.”

On March 4, 2024, the farm was re-registered to the government-controlled territory, but a few days later, the banks demanded repayment of the loans and filed a lawsuit. The amount of the debt is almost a million UAH, taken to purchase equipment that now remains in the occupied territory.

“The bank is demanding money, even though we are physically unable to return it. The founder of the company, who is the bank's guarantor, is now on the front line,” he said.

The story of another UAC member from Kherson region was even more dramatic. At his request, we are not disclosing his name. The enterprise came under occupation on the first day of the war.

“We were sowing barley at 8 a.m. on February 24, 2022, and at 10 a.m. we were occupied. In two hours, the Russians were here. They demanded to re-register the farm. When we refused, they tortured us – we were kept in the basement for a month without water and food,” said the member of the UAC.

The farmer lost 2,500 hectares of land, a newly built warehouse for 7,000 tons of grain, machinery and a refrigerator worth USD 2 million, which had been bought for borrowed money.

“There was USD 1.5 million worth of grain left in the warehouses, and it was all taken out. Banks say: pay your debts, because you had collateral. How can I return a tractor that is now somewhere in Krasnodar, Chechnya or Rostov?”

The UAC member believes that the situation when farmers are adjudged for debts incurred because of the war is unacceptable.

“I was tortured, all my property was taken away, and now the banks are suing me for not being able to return the money. Who will compensate me for my losses?” he outraged.

Ukrainian farmers are awaiting the adoption of draft law No. 12148, which should help them defer repayment of their loan debts. This document provides for a temporary prohibition on the enforcement of debts from farmers whose property is located in the zone of active hostilities or on the occupied territories. The law will be in effect for the entire period of martial law and for another year after its termination.

The National Bank of Ukraine welcomed the draft law and recognized the high relevance of the issue.

The Ukrainian Agri Council (UAC) calls on the Verkhovna Rada to submit the document to the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Legal Policy as soon as possible.

“We ask you to support the draft Law of Ukraine No. 12148 and protect farmers who have become hostages of the war. The law should guarantee that farmers affected by the war will be able to return to work and continue to develop the agricultural sector for the benefit of the country,” emphasized the UAC.