On Wednesday, the Ukrainian government announced a ban on the export of essential grains and food staples in light of Russian forces intensifying their invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Minister of Agrarian and Food Policy, Roman Leshchenko, said the move aims to avert a “humanitarian crisis in Ukraine” and stabilise the domestic market. The export ban will be enforced till the end of the year and applies to crops such as rye, barley, millet, buckwheat, and sugar. In addition, salt, sugar, meat and other cattle “by-products” will also be restricted to “meet the needs of the population in critical food products.”
Earlier this week, Leshchenko affirmed that Ukrainian farmers will begin sowing crops this month despite Russia’s indiscriminate shelling of Ukraine’s critical infrastructure. “We are not giving up, as it is a matter of food,” Leshchenko added. However, given the intensified Russian attack, Kyiv is taking extra measures to ensure domestic supplies last longer.
Agricultural commodity prices are still close to record highs with #wheat trading +100%, #corn is also up strongly. pic.twitter.com/vm4Pw0j9lJ
— Lukas Sustala 🇪🇺🇺🇦 (@LukasSustala) March 9, 2022
Ukraine contributes 11% of the world’s total grains and 55% of global sunflower oil. As such, its move has prompted concerns around the world over a disruption to global food chains that could induce food insecurity in many regions. Crucially, a large proportion of Ukraine’s grain exports are sent to the Middle East and Africa, putting already vulnerable countries, such as Egypt and Lebanon, in further danger. Although United States (US) Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack claimed that American farmers are ready to “step in” and fill the void, the US’ distance from Africa is likely to be a major logistical hurdle.
#Ukraine is one of the world’s most important guarantors of food security.
— MFA of Ukraine 🇺🇦 (@MFA_Ukraine) March 4, 2022
Every 10th loaf of bread 🍞 in the world is backed from grain grown by Ukrainians.
Defending Ukraine also protects the world from hunger and famine.#StopRussianAggression #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/iLsQW9hFtX
Meanwhile, as Moscow’s bombing of Ukraine over the last two weeks continued, Russian missiles on Wednesday destroyed a maternity hospital in the southern city of Mariupol, injuring at least 17 people, including staffers and patients. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky slammed Russia by saying, “What kind of country is this, the Russian Federation, which is afraid of hospitals and maternity hospitals and destroys them?”
Elsewhere, AFP reported that Ukrainian authorities in capital Kyiv expressed fears over Russia surrounding the city from all sides, and possibly cutting off its vital supplies. Moscow and Kyiv agreed to hold a 12-hour ceasefire yesterday to allow humanitarian corridors for evacuation. According to Zelensky, 1,600 students and 3,500 residents were evacuated from the humanitarian corridor connecting Sumy to Poltava in Ukraine.