Current War Situation in Ukraine
Battlefield Updates
Ukrainian troops had advanced 200-500 metres near the city of Bakhmut, and 300-350 metres in the direction of the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia.
russia continues to attack civilian objects with missiles and drones:
June 13: at night russia hit a five-storey building in Kryvyi Rih. 12 people were killed.
June 14: attack on Odessa. russian troops fired four Kalibr missiles. Three were shooted down. 3 people killed.
June 9: Zhytomyr oblast, private house. One person killed.
- putin said that russians do not shell residential buildings;
- he emphasized that there was no point in such shelling.
Source: https://index.minfin.com.ua
War Crimes: Kakhovka HPP
- russians blew up the Kakhovka HPP on June 6.
- It was mined in April 2022;
- Water volume – 18 mln m3.
- HPP is necessary for electricity production and water supply to the south of Ukraine.
- Reasons: to interrupt counter offensive of Ukrainian forces; to make it impossible to move to Crimea; to move their troops to other directions.
Consequences for the agricultural sector of the South
- 94% of irrigation systems in Kherson, 74% in Zaporizhia, and 30% in Dnipropetrovsk regions were left without water supply.
- 85% of agricultural land in oblast is arable land that needs constant irrigation.
- Crimea will be left without fresh water.
- About 10,000 ha of agricultural land on the right bank of the Kherson region and 20,000-30,000 ha on the occupied left bank were flooded.
- Fields in the south of Ukraine may turn into deserts the next year.
Direct and indirect losses of the Ukrainian agricultural sector may increase to more than $10 billion:
- damage due to land flooding – $3-5 billion.
- indirect losses due to uncultivated agricultural products – $2 billion each year.
More than 100,000 tons of crops have already been lost on the right bank.
- The largest area of agricultural land in Ukraine is in Kherson oblast – 2 mln. ha. One of the national leaders in growing vegetables (tomatoes, cabbage, onion, sweet pepper, eggplant) and melon crops.
- Famous for livestock production. Pig, dairy and poultry farms are actively developing.
- The agricultural industry of the region had powerful scientific support (universities). Many were destroyed.
Kherson Oblast : Why Important?
War Crimes: Kakhovka HPP
- The “Kozatska” branch of the “NIBULON” company was damaged due to the explosion of the Kakhovska HPP.
- Earlier the elevator was under fire.
- Since the occupation, it has not been used. There was no grain.
- The navigation on the Dnipro will be impossible the next few years due to the destruction of the Kakhovska HPP.
- Roads, bridges, moorings, and protective dams along the Dnipro river have been destroyed and flooded.
Export
Black Sea Grain Initiative
- Since the beginning of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, about 31,6 mln tons of agricultural products have been exported.
- May–June 29-4, 2023 (the 44th week of operation) – 395,6 th. tons of agricultural products were exported (78% more than a week before).
- June 5-11, 2023 – (the 45th week of operation) – 651,0 th. tons of agricultural products were exported (65% more than a week before).
- Last week, 13 vessels were loaded, which is 6 more than the previous week
- However, only 7 vessels passed the entrance inspection, which is a critically low indicator.
- Export through the “grain corridor” in May fell by 52% compared to April.
- russia continues to block the operation of the port “Pivdenniy” and the inspection of ships.
- June 9 – according to the UN, 15 loaded vessels are waiting for inspection.
Export:
As of June 14, Ukraine exported 47.125 mln tons of grains and pulses since the beginning of the 2022/2023 MY (down 2.2% or 1.046 mln year over year). 1.788 mln tons exported in June:
- wheat – 16.202 mln tonnes (704 thsd tonnes in June);
- barley – 2.666 mln tonnes (19 thsd tonnes);
- oats – 18 thsd tonnes (0.1 thsd tonnes);
- corn – 27.934 mln tonnes (1.063 mln tonnes).
Source: Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine
Photo: UkrAgroConsult
Planting of Spring Crops (2023)
- As of June 9, farmers in 12 oblasts of Ukraine completed planting of spring crops.
- 12.8 mln ha of grain, leguminous and oilseed crops have already been planted.
The War and Education
- Due to the full-scale invasion 501 Ukrainian children were killed.
- From the beginning of the war, 400 educational institutions have been completely destroyed and approximately 3,000 have been damaged (The Ministry of Education).
- 5.3 million children meet challenges, trying to get access to education.
- 3.6 million children are directly affected by school closures (UNICEF).
Kindergarten in Kherson Oblast
Kherson oblast (South of Ukraine) was one of the first regions that were occupied. It is still partially occupied. The data provided further covers the deoccupied part of the oblast, which is still under heavy shellings due to the close battlefield line:
- 22 educational institutions were destroyed.
- 84 educational institutions were damaged, including 48 schools and 23 kindergartens.
Educational institutions in rural areas suffered the most. The Russians also looted them.
Serhii Shkarlet, ex-Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine
The oldest gymnasium in Kherson oblast
Photo: Mrochko Roman
Kindergarten in Bruskinske village:
- 25 children (10 boys and 15 girls);
- 9 workers;
- Population size of kindergarten – 30 children.
- The reconstruction of this kindergarten will motivate those families who left for the evacuation reasons to come back to their homes.
- The effect from the reconstruction of this kindergarten will be the most beneficial for the life of that community.
49 000 Euro is necessary for reconstruction of the kindergarten:
- roof – 6500-7000 euro
- windows and doors (30-35 items) – 7000 – 9000 euro
- outside walls – 5000 euro
- logistics and inside work – 21000 euro
- administrative fees – 7000 euros
