Both Russia and Ukraine have always been major global food suppliers. Before 2022, they jointly accounted for 29% of the world’s wheat supply, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Black Sea has provided a major channel for international grain shipments, while Ukraine has also been a top exporter of barley, corn and rapeseed.
Indeed, with last year’s wheat exports representing almost 12% of the global total, Ukraine is often called the “breadbasket” of Europe. That is partly because its nutrient-rich “black earth” soils are ideal for growing wheat. However, the main wheat regions and ports lie in the country’s south and east: they are situated in what, following February’s invasion of Ukraine by Russia, has become a
