Ukrainian agriculture: Building wartime resilience, preparing for post-war growth

VivaPlus  is a potato and grains producer that supplies markets and the food-processing industry, with its products used to make potato chips and starch. The farm is located in Nizhyn, Chernihiv oblast – both a major agricultural region and vulnerable to security risks given its proximity to the Russian border.  
 

We spoke to Yuriy Yatsyuta, owner and manager, about remaining a resilient business in difficult times. He told us a story of constant unpredictability and adaptation, where he is more of a manager dealing with several crises at once, than a farmer growing and selling crops.    
 

The war has presented constant operational risks: infrastructure can be destroyed, shipments can be disrupted or attacked, labour can be scarce due to mobilisation and input costs remain volatile. Yuriy describes it as “living on a volcano,” where operations can collapse overnight.   
 

In response to these risks, VivaPlus is in the process of transforming its operations. Previously dependent on third-party providers, the farm is investing in its own transport, storage and grain-drying capabilities. Due to unreliable electricity supply, Yuriy is also strengthening energy independence by installing generators and developing a small solar energy project. These projects are not luxuries, they are essential.   
 

Accessing finance to manage these changes, however, has been difficult. And when finance is available, it is expensive.  
 

Vital longer-term, local-currency financing provided by EFSE USF and AP Bank has allowed Yuriy to modernise. This financing  has made investments in modern and efficient equipment possible. It effectively supported the farm's supply chains by building out post-harvest infrastructure, operational independence and stability in wartime conditions, setting the stage for sustained longer-term productivity. Specific purchases have included modern tractors, storage units and newly installed drying equipment. The investment also allowed the farm to save costs and maintain jobs.

As 2026 continues, Yuriy is cautiously optimistic. Uncertainty may be high, but he believes that with continued adaptation, access to financing and a focus on operational independence, his farm can remain stable and continue to grow long after the war is over. 

Due to the war, millions of hectares of farmland can no longer be used for cultivation. Occupation, mines, land contamination, asset destruction, labour shortages, and trade disruption have blighted this essential regional – and global – sector, with total recovery and reconstruction needs estimated at $ 55.5 billion.¹ 
 

Climate change has also been an issue – rising temperatures, more prevalent droughts and climate hazards, such as spring frosts are all affecting yields and productivity. 
 

Still, farmers demonstrate inspiring adaptability. Even in the face of war, farms continue to invest in modern, efficient agricultural tools, such as irrigation, while upgrading logistics and infrastructure, and adapting to evolving market needs. They are also helping rebuild local communities by hiring internally displaced persons (IDPs), veterans, and other vulnerable groups.  
 

Support from financial institutions is essential in these endeavours. 
 

Our €8 million local-currency investment with AP Bank builds on the work we have been doing in financing the resilience and inclusive growth of the agriculture sector across the country – both before and during the war. Since the inception of the Ukraine Sub-Fund, more than 71% of all sub-loans have been disbursed to the agriculture sector. 
 

¹ Ukraine 5th Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA5), 2026