Ukrainian farmers are in rebuild mode after a prominent grain storage facility was overtaken by Russian troops and then destroyed.
Latifundist Media has partnered with us to provide boots-on-the-ground coverage:
“We are in Snihurivka, a small town in Mykolaiv region. Dmytro Maksymenko, Regional Director of Elevator Business at Prometey, is our guide.
For a year, Snihurivka was in the headlines of Ukrainian and international media. This small town in Mykolaiv region witnessed hostilities between the Ukrainian army and Russian invaders. The elevator of Prometey is located at one of the highest points in the area, so the Russians set up an observation post her
“In mid-March, it took one day for the elevator to be seized. One night, a Russian army convoy stopped by. At gunpoint, the Russians forced all the staff out of the elevator and forbade them to return. Only seven months later we were able to come back. It was after the deoccupation of Snihurivka.”
The granary is in ruins. You can see for yourself the results of the Russian presence here.
“All our warehouses are damaged, including the silo building. Losses are now estimated. So much product was stolen, and the silo complex, which was 80% full, was burnt down.”
>3⃣0⃣0⃣ units of farm machinery destroyed
— Latifundist.сom (@LatifundistCom) March 17, 2023
≈3⃣0⃣0⃣ farms devastated
≈7⃣2⃣ kha still occupied by russian invaders
This is the first year of the #RussiaUkraineWar in Kharkiv region.
🌱In 2023, 18% more farmland will be planted in the region vs. 2022 — apx. 634 kha. pic.twitter.com/B98bjqCkrw
Before the war, 70,000 tons of products were stored here.
“The battles outside Snihurivka left the grain elevator in this condition. This part was filled with sunflower seeds, wheat and barley. In three months everything burnt out.”
The elevator was rather old, and we had plans to modernize it. Now it is not about reconstruction, but a complete rebuilding.
The territory of the elevator is currently cleared of missile debris, remains of what was used at the elevator and garbage left by the Russians. There is plenty of work for years to come but sowing has already begun in the country and they plan to restore at least one or two warehouses to receive at least minimum volumes of products at the end of the season.
That report was powered by Latifundist Media, with USAID support provided through Agriculture Growing Rural Opportunities (AGRO) Activity implemented in Ukraine by Chemonics International. For more information, visit their website or follow them on social media.
