Donetsk region’s crop areas cut by about 80% compared to pre-war period – regional administration

In the Donetsk region, the total area of agricultural crop fields has reduced by about 80% this year compared to the pre-invasion period.

The relevant statement was made by Director of the Department for Agro-Industrial Development and Land Relations at Donetsk Regional State Administration Artem Chahan in a commentary to Ukrinform.

“In 2021, a total of 1.41 million hectares were sown in the Donetsk region. The area of crop fields reduced to 406 thousand hectares with the start of the [Russian] full-scale invasion, 364 thousand hectares in 2023, and 313 thousand hectares this year. As of now, about 59% of the [Donetsk] region’s territory has been occupied by the enemy,” the report states.

According to Chahan, some agricultural lands are not cultivated at the moment due to their proximity to the contact line – they are the so-called ‘grey zone’. In addition, nearly all lands in the de-occupied Lyman and Sviatohirsk communities, as well as the de-occupied part of the Velyka Novosilka community, require demining. Some lands are used by fortifications, and some lie fallow.

A reminder that Russian troops are continuously shelling the Donetsk region, where the frontline is the longest, totaling about 300 kilometers. About 472,000 civilians are remaining within the Ukrainian-controlled territory there.