The harvest in the frontline regions is taking place under difficult conditions, amid shelling and after a prolonged drought. Without state compensation per hectare and decisions on suspending loans, it will be extremely difficult to prepare for the new season.

This was stated during a briefing at the Media Center Ukraine by Denys Marchuk, Deputy Chairman of the Ukrainian Agri Council:

"The conditions of the harvesting campaign are now extremely difficult, especially in the frontline regions. There, producers are suffering today from both the war and weather conditions. We are seeing how the prolonged drought in Kherson region has virtually destroyed grain crops. Farmers were forced to plow their fields and replant them with sunflowers. However, due to abnormal weather conditions, some of these new crops have also been destroyed. At the same time, it will soon be time to start the autumn sowing season. Therefore, it is very important not to leave these regions alone with their problems. We, as the Ukrainian Agri Council, have repeatedly appealed to the government with a request to provide financial support per hectare, but so far we have not received a positive response".

Uncertainty regarding state support and delays in important decisions are exacerbating the crisis in the agricultural sector in the frontline territories.

"Only in Donetsk region, commodity producers have lost more than UAH 6 billion since the full-scale invasion began. These are colossal losses. The area under cultivation has decreased significantly. We once again remind and appeal to the Office of the President of Ukraine and personally to the President to support these commodity producers, at least by signing a law on suspending loans for farmers from temporarily occupied and frontline regions. This law was passed in the second reading back in March, but has not yet been signed. And this would be a significant help to those who have lost everything or were forced to leave the controlled territory due to shelling, because such support from the state is extremely important," emphasized the Deputy Chairman of the UAC.