Russian strikes on Ukraine’s vegetable oil and fats industry are systematic and aimed at destroying a budget-forming, export-oriented sector. This was stated by Stepan Kapshuk, Director General of the UkrOliyaProm association, in a comment to Latifundist.com regarding the latest attacks on Ukrainian processing plants.
According to him, vegetable oils together with oilseed meals account for more than 15% of Ukraine’s foreign currency earnings and around 20% of the country’s merchandise exports.
“Recent strikes on plants in ports, and now on Bunge — this is a planned destruction of the industry. Russians are destroying a budget-forming and export-oriented sector,” Kapshuk said.
Earlier, a drone attack damaged Bunge’s plant in Dnipro, which, among other products, manufactures goods under the “Oliyna” brand. As a result of the strike, around 300 tonnes of sunflower oil spilled onto the city’s streets.
In late December, Russian forces carried out strikes on several Ukrainian oil extraction plants, including the Allseeds terminal in Pivdennyi and Kernel’s Illichivsk oil and fats plant in Chornomorsk.
Bunge spokesperson Kristy Dixon told Reuters that the company is assessing the damage at the Dnipro facility and is “working with local authorities to mitigate the impact.” She noted that there were no casualties at the site and added that the company is prioritizing employee safety and the restoration of operations.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the attack in Dnipro as deliberate, noting that it was not the first attempt to hit the facility. He said Russia is systematically targeting U.S. businesses in Ukraine, and such actions demonstrate disregard for peace initiatives.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also commented on the strike in his evening address:
“In Dnipro, among the targets hit was a civilian enterprise, a food producer — ordinary sunflower oil. And for Russia, as it turns out, this too is a target,” he said.
The President emphasized the need to accelerate the peace process, strengthen Ukraine’s air defense, and increase sanctions pressure on Russia.
