Farming Under Fire: The Ongoing Struggle of Ukraine’s Agricultural Sector

For the farmers of Ukraine, the act of planting and harvesting has shifted from a routine seasonal rhythm to a high-stakes operation conducted in the shadow of war. Since 2022, agricultural fields across the country—from the Kharkiv and Kherson regions to Zaporizhzhia—have become frontline landscapes, littered with the remnants of conflict and scarred by the physical toll of artillery and drone warfare.

The Daily Reality of Conflict-Zone Agriculture

The challenges facing Ukrainian farmers are immense and multifaceted. Agricultural workers frequently navigate fields that are not only sites of food production but also active zones of reconnaissance and defense. Soldiers often utilize these expansive wheat and sunflower fields to launch drones or monitor enemy positions, while farmers continue their work in the background, maneuvering combine harvesters around craters left by rocket strikes.

The physical hazards are severe. Fragments of missiles, cluster ammunition, and downed drones are common discoveries in fields where crops are meant to grow. As EOD specialist Oleksii Poliakov of the National Police has noted, the danger to civilians is grave, with fatal cases—including children—occurring when individuals attempt to recover explosive fragments or clear debris without professional assistance.

Infrastructure and Economic Destruction

Beyond the immediate threat of unexploded ordnance, the infrastructure supporting Ukraine’s agricultural output has faced systematic destruction. Granaries, hangars, and livestock facilities have been frequent targets of shelling and drone strikes. In the Kharkiv region, a single massive drone strike in October 2025 resulted in the destruction of farm buildings and the loss of the majority of a 15,000-pig herd.

For many, the war has meant the total loss of their livelihood. In villages like Dovhenke, farmers have been left to survey the ruins of their farms and homes, surrounded by the rusted remains of military hardware that serve as permanent reminders of the conflict’s reach into the heart of the countryside.

Risk Mitigation and Humanitarian Efforts

To continue production, farmers and humanitarian organizations have had to adopt extraordinary measures:

• Mine Clearance: Humanitarian groups like the HALO Trust and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine utilize specialized equipment, such as remote-controlled mine-clearing vehicles, to make land safe for cultivation.
• Technological Adaptation: In the Kherson region, farmers have integrated electronic-warfare systems to disable incoming first-person-view (FPV) drones. Some also employ portable drone detectors to monitor the airspace while they work.
• Evacuation: In areas where air attacks are frequent, such as the Zaporizhzhia region, farmers have been forced to evacuate livestock, including horses, to safer locations to protect them from incoming fire.

Looking Ahead

The resilience of the Ukrainian agricultural sector remains a critical component of the nation’s survival. However, the presence of discarded fiber-optic cables, unexploded ordnance, and the constant threat of shelling ensures that the path to recovery will be long and dangerous. As work continues near the front lines, the primary focus remains on the dual necessity of securing the land and maintaining the food supply under conditions that few agricultural communities in the world have ever had to endure.

Key Takeaways

• Hazardous Terrain: Agricultural fields are frequently contaminated with unexploded ordnance, posing a lethal risk to farmers and civilians.
• Direct Targeting: Infrastructure, including granaries and livestock farms, has suffered significant damage from drone and artillery strikes.
• Farmer Ingenuity: Producers are increasingly relying on electronic-warfare technology and professional de-mining support to maintain operations.
• Humanitarian Impact: The ongoing conflict forces challenging decisions, including the emergency evacuation of livestock and the abandonment of farmland near active combat zones.