Luhansk plans to double wheat harvest amid controversy over grain ownership

In the context of ongoing territorial disputes, Luhansk, a Ukrainian region claimed by Russia since 2022, is expected to double its wheat harvest this year. Local officials have reported that the region is planning to harvest approximately one million tons of grain, predominantly wheat, and to export a share of this harvest. This increase follows a year when Luhansk, along with Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, contributed about three percent to Russia's overall grain crop, despite facing a national harvest decline of 14 percent due to adverse weather conditions. The head of the Russian-installed administration, Leonid Pasechnik, emphasized the impact of local agricultural production on food supply amidst the protracted conflict. The issue of grain production in these contested territories raises significant controversy, as Ukraine asserts that all grain produced since Russia's annexation in 2014 is considered stolen. Ukraine's Deputy Economy Minister Taras Vysotskiy estimated that around 15 million tons of grain have been appropriated by Russia since the full-scale war began. Consequently, Ukraine has sought support from Western allies to impose sanctions on countries importing grain from these regions. A notable example includes Ukraine's call for the EU to sanction Bangladesh for its wheat purchases from Russian-controlled areas. However, responses from the EU have been muted, as tracking the origin of mixed wheat shipments remains a complex challenge for traders. Despite these complications, Russian officials continue to promote agricultural activities in the newly claimed territories. The Russian government has allocated 8 billion roubles annually to support farming efforts in Luhansk and other regions. This financial support has reportedly made it easier for local farmers to compete due to reduced export taxes, thus allowing them to invest in modern agricultural equipment and supplies. As the harvesting season commences, local leaders like Pasechnik and Sorokin have expressed optimism about the agricultural potential of Luhansk, indicating that the one million tons of grain projected to be harvested this year is only the beginning. As the conflict endures, the situation is increasingly complicated by the international community's varied responses to the actions of Russia and Ukraine. With mixed reports on the legal status of these grains and discontent within Ukraine regarding foreign transactions involving them, the struggle over agricultural products underscores larger issues of sovereignty and control in the regions impacted by the ongoing war.