More than 5,000 hectares of grain crops destroyed by Russian shelling in Kherson region, exceeding last season's losses

More than 5,000 hectares of grain crops on the right bank of Kherson region had been destroyed by Russian shelling as of July 6, surpassing losses recorded during the entire previous season, public broadcaster Suspilne Kherson reported.

According to Viktor Hordienko, head of the Kherson Region Farmers Association, Russian forces are deliberately setting fire to wheat, barley and sunflower fields. Farmers are extinguishing the fires themselves while continuing the harvest under constant attacks.

"About 99% of these fires are put out by farmers themselves, both small and large. We use fire extinguishers and tractors, plough firebreaks to stop the flames from reaching villages. But Russian drones come every day, setting fires from different directions. While you're putting out one fire, another starts elsewhere. It's simply impossible to extinguish everything," Hordienko said.

He said his farm cultivates 6,000 hectares, around 5,000 hectares of which are currently in a high-risk zone. Ongoing attacks have left farmers uncertain whether they will be able to sow winter crops this autumn.

Dmytro Yunusov, director of the Department of Agricultural Development and Irrigation at the Kherson Region Military Administration, said the hardest-hit areas include the Beryslav, Mylove, Novooleksandrivka and Tiahynka communities.

"According to our latest operational data, more than 5,000 hectares of farmland in Kherson region have already burned due to shelling. During the entire previous season, the total area destroyed was about 5,000 hectares," Yunusov said.

In addition to fields, Russian forces have also targeted agricultural machinery and farm workers, Hordienko said.

"Over the past two to three weeks, the Russians burned about seven tractors and two JCB harvesters. Two weeks ago, drones struck our farm base and wounded a security guard. He is now in hospital with multiple injuries. My neighbour was also wounded and is currently in a coma," he said.

Hordiienko said he had appealed to the Economy Ministry to compensate farmers for crop losses caused by Russian attacks.

According to Yunusov, the state compensation programme currently covers officially registered agricultural businesses, including legal entities and sole proprietors. Support for private households is expected to be provided through international organisations.

Farmers on the right bank of Kherson region planted 232,000 hectares for the 2026 harvest, but the area sown with winter crops this autumn could decline because of the security situation.