Ukraine said its exports of agricultural products have recovered to around prewar levels.
Data from Ukraine’s Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food shows the country shipped 6.9 million metric tons of grain, vegetables and edible oils last month, almost matching the 7.1 million tons exported in September last year.
Exports have accelerated this month, the ministry said, with shipments of agricultural products since the start of the Autumn season hitting 10.4 million tons so far — one million tons more than the entire summer season.
Farmers, meanwhile, have planted fewer crops this year, and Russia still controls a large slice of Ukrainian farmland.
On the Energy Front
These export numbers come as Ukraine has been forced to introduce rolling blackouts nationwide on Thursday, after the country lost at least 40% of its power-generating capacity following days of Russian attacks on energy infrastructure targets.
Ukraine’s national energy company said Wednesday it needs to apply the restrictions on consumers to make the system “work in a balanced way.” The announcement comes as Russia continues to inflict serious damage at power facilities with Iranian-supplied “Shahed-136 “kamikaze” drones, officials said.
U.N. Security Violation
Western powers say usage of the drones would violate U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231, which restricted certain transfers from (or to) Iran.
Iran has repeatedly denied supplying any military hardware to Russia, while the Kremlin has warned the United Nations against investigating its use of drones in Ukraine.
“Otherwise, we will have to reassess our collaboration with them, which is hardly in anyone’s interests,” Russia’s Deputy U.N. Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy declared.
The events are playing out as U.N. officials negotiate with Moscow to extend and widen a July 22 deal that resumed Ukraine Black Sea grain and fertilizer exports (the pact could expire in November if an agreement is not reached).
More on ag exports:
Farmers in ‘Surprising’ State help Ease Grain Distribution Disruptions
Biden: Double Crop Because ‘We Can’t Take Any Chances’
