MYKOLAIV, Ukraine — Despite a strong harvest this year, Ukrainian farmers in the southern agricultural heartland face mounting challenges as escalating attacks by Russia and Ukraine threaten to choke grain exports through the Black Sea, risking another global food crisis.

Farmers in Mykolaiv and surrounding regions report an urgent lack of storage for their abundant grain supplies amid a collapse in demand, driven by disruptions at key Ukrainian ports. “There’s almost nowhere to store it,” said Viktor Zviryshyn, 57, a local farmer still rebuilding his life and farm after his property was destroyed during Russia’s initial invasion in 2022.

The conflict, now in its fourth year, has severely disrupted grain exports—a sector critical not only to Ukraine’s economy but also to global food security. After initial devastation in 2022 that triggered a worldwide food shock, Ukraine partly restored exports through a Black Sea grain corridor brokered by Turkey and the United Nations. However, renewed Russian attacks launched earlier this year have severely curtailed this pathway, targeting Ukrainian ports and vessels. Moscow has also intensified drone strikes on agricultural infrastructure near the front lines.

Ukraine has responded with strikes on Russian grain shipments and port facilities in southern Russia. According to maritime intelligence, Kyiv targeted at least five Russian grain tankers in August. These reciprocal attacks have dramatically reduced grain exports from both countries.

Ukraine’s minister of agriculture, Taras Vysotskyi, reported that Ukraine shipped only 500,000 metric tons of grain between August 1 and 18—a fifth of normal volume when ports operate fully. Meanwhile, the Russian Grain Union said Moscow’s grain exports from August 1 to 20 dropped to 1.4 million metric tons, less than half the volume for the same period last year and marking a decade-low.

Both nations are seeking alternative routes to export grain. Ukraine has turned to road and rail networks and river terminals on the Danube, although these options have limited capacity due to drought conditions and ongoing Russian attacks. Russia has also targeted parts of these routes, further complicating logistics.

Humanitarian groups warn that farmers bear the brunt of these disruptions. Vicki Aken, country director of Mercy Corps in Ukraine, emphasized that without a safe and accessible export route, large quantities of harvested grain risk spoilage due to inadequate storage. “Ukraine’s farmers have risked their lives for this harvest,” Aken said in an urgent call for renewed international efforts to restore a grain export agreement.

Local farmers echo this concern. Zviryshyn said he has nearly depleted his savings and lacks fuel to prepare fields for the next planting season, with much of his harvest stored unsheltered under tarps or in limited silo space. Roman Pradun, 35, whose barn was rebuilt with international aid, has been directly affected by Russian drone attacks and sustained injuries during a recent strike.

Despite the immense pressures, the resolve among farmers remains firm. Volodymyr Pradun, Roman’s father, reflected on the uncertainty but noted, “It’s farming. You cannot just stop.” Their determination underscores the ongoing struggle to sustain agricultural production amid the war’s growing toll on Ukraine’s vital grain sector.