There is no food shortage in Ukraine despite Russia's attacks on warehouses, says Vysotsky
Despite Russian strikes on retail chains’ warehouses and distribution centers, there is currently no food shortage in Ukraine. At the same time, no significant price increases are expected as a result of the attacks.
According to the minister, Russian attacks have damaged some logistics routes, but the situation remains under control. There is currently no reason to speak of a food shortage.
The government is seeking alternatives to the warehouse facilities that were destroyed or damaged as a result of Russian strikes. It plans to use all available backup sites to store products.
At the same time, restructuring the logistics system will require additional costs. However, according to Vysotsky’s assessment, these costs should not lead to a sharp rise in food prices.
“These are certainly not the kind of costs that would lead to price increases in the tens of percent—there is nothing like that today, and generally speaking, there won’t be,” the minister emphasized.
According to him, some of the products will have to be delivered to stores essentially “straight from the truck,” without prolonged storage in warehouses.
Vysotsky noted that product losses of 30–40% can be offset relatively quickly.
The Cabinet of Ministers is already conducting an additional analysis of the food price situation. According to the minister, no sharp price spikes have been recorded in Ukraine so far.
Since the start of the full-scale war, Russian attacks have destroyed more than 400,000 square meters of warehouse space belonging to Ukrainian businesses. This is roughly equivalent to the area of 56 soccer fields.
Logistics facilities belonging to Fozzy Group, Rozetka, Epicenter, and Nova Poshta, as well as those of hundreds of entrepreneurs who stored goods in the warehouses of major operators, were hit.
Due to damage to the logistics infrastructure, there are fewer goods on the shelves of some Novus stores and the Fozzy Group chain, which includes Silpo, Fora, and Fozzy.
At the same time, retail chains assure that no widespread food shortages are expected as a result of the Russian strikes. Stores may experience only localized disruptions and temporary shortages of certain items.
This was stated by Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Taras Vysotsky during a briefing.
Earlier, the Center for Countering Disinformation stated that Ukraine is not facing a food shortage, and reports of allegedly empty shelves are part of Russian propaganda.
