Russian drone takes farmer's life: his identity was not hidden
In the heart of the Kherson region, Ukraine, the farming community has been grappling with unprecedented challenges since the Russian invasion. One such farmer, Oleksandr Hordiienko, faced these hardships head-on.
Hordiienko, the chairman of the farmers' association in the Kherson region and a member of the regional council, had been running his farm in the Beryslav district since 1998. However, he was forced to leave his land after the invasion, returning only after the area was liberated in the fall of 2022.
His return, though bittersweet, was met with new challenges. Hordiienko used a drone jammer in his work and managed to shoot down several drones due to the constant danger from Russian drones. Yet, the Russian military's relentless targeting of Ukrainian agriculture continued, with the Kakhovka dam being blown up in 2023, damaging his irrigation system and posing a risk of drought for the first winter grain sowing.
The direct and indirect losses and damages to Ukrainian agriculture from the war amounted to around 80 billion US dollars by the end of 2023. Crop losses alone accounted for around 69.8 billion US dollars, with damage to machinery, vehicles, seed, and livestock totalling about 10.3 billion US dollars.
These figures paint a grim picture for Ukrainian farmers like Hordiienko. The high fertilizer prices, a result of significant reductions in imports, further compounded their struggles. Even international aid organizations like SOS Children's Villages faced fertilizer supply difficulties, limiting farmers' access to essential agricultural inputs.
Tragically, last Friday, a Russian drone claimed the life of Oleksandr Hordiienko while he was working in his vehicle. The incident was reported by the association Fellas for Europe e.V., which organizes aid for Ukraine.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in continuous civilian casualties, including farmers. As of July 31, 2025, the total number of recorded victims in Ukraine is approximately 14,000.
Amidst this turmoil, Ukrainian agriculture in the Kherson region has seen a significant decrease, with eight out of ten farmers leaving since 2022. Hordiienko's tragic demise serves as a stark reminder of the hardships faced by these farmers and the devastating impact of the war on Ukraine's agricultural sector.
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