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GMA Network
31-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Locusts spread in Ukraine's south as war disrupts control measures
KUSHUHUM, Ukraine - A massive locust invasion is threatening sunflower and other crops in Ukraine's southern regions, largely caused by the war against Russia's invasion that makes it impossible to use traditional pest control methods, officials and producers say. Locusts, which can destroy huge areas of crops in a matter of days, traditionally breed in secluded places along rivers or in uncultivated areas, and controlling that is almost impossible in regions neighbouring the frontline. The situation is complicated by record high temperatures this summer, the inability to use aircraft for locust control and the absence of birds - locusts' natural predators - which are avoiding the combat zone. Local and government officials declined to provide data on the extent of the locust infestation or damage caused so far. Ukraine is the world's largest sunflower oil exporter and before the war ranked fifth among wheat exporters. Swarms of locusts are covering roads, fields and bushes in Zaporizhzhia region and farmers say the insects have destroyed up to a third of their sunflower crops. "We saw a big swarm. And the next day the 'infantry' marched in. The small ones, they ate everything that was hanging low, they ate everything," said Oleh Tolmatov, 46, a resident of Kushuhum village in Zaporizhzhia region. Russia, which invaded Ukraine in 2022, has partially occupied the southern Ukrainian regions of Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv and Kherson, forcing farmers to abandon their fields. Grains and oilseeds are traditional crops for these regions. "The reason for all of this is high temperatures, the reason for all of this is abandoned land, the reason for all of this is the corresponding Russian aggression," Vadym Chaikovskyi, Ukraine's Chief Phytosanitary Inspector, told Reuters. Denys Marchuk, deputy head of Ukraine's largest farm producers' union UAC, said that the destruction of the Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River by Russian troops two years ago had created huge swampy areas where locusts are breeding. Kyiv says that Russia blew up the Kakhovka dam in the summer of 2023, draining thousands of square kilometers of the former reservoir and leaving farms and Europe's largest nuclear power plant without water. — Reuters
Yahoo
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Locusts swarm in south Ukraine as war disrupts pest control
STORY: Crops in Ukraine's southern regions are under attack from locusts... that are breeding in inaccessible areas near the frontline. The insects are capable of devastating crops in days, and officials say Russia's war has made using traditional pest control methods impossible. In the Zaporizhzhia region swarms of locusts have been covering roads, fields and bushes. And producers say the insects have destroyed up to a third of their sunflower crops. Small scale farmer, Oleh Tolmatov, says it's never been as bad. "We saw a big swarm. And the next day the 'infantry' marched in. The small ones ate everything that was hanging low. They ate everything. The big ones flew around and then flew away. And the small ones crawled. And they are still here, still jumping around. They covered everything like a big blanket." Local and government officials declined to provide data on the extent of the infestation or damage caused. But Ukraine's Chief Phytosanitary Inspector, Vadym Chaikovskyi, says the war is squarely to blame. He explains that in addition to high temperatures, the conflict has resulted in an increased amount of neglected land. The inability to use aircraft for spraying and the absence of birds that would prey on them due to the fighting is further complicating the crisis. Ukraine is the world's largest sunflower oil exporter and before the war ranked fifth among wheat exporters. But war has changed the landscape. According to Denys Marchuk, deputy head of Ukraine's largest farm producers' union UAC, the destruction of the Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River by Russian forces in 2023 created vast swampy areas ideal for locust breeding.
The Star
30-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Locusts spread in Ukraine's south as war disrupts control measures
KUSHUHUM, Ukraine (Reuters) -A massive locust invasion is threatening sunflower and other crops in Ukraine's southern regions, largely caused by the war against Russia's invasion that makes it impossible to use traditional pest control methods, officials and producers say. Locusts, which can destroy huge areas of crops in a matter of days, traditionally breed in secluded places along rivers or in uncultivated areas, and controlling that is almost impossible in regions neighbouring the frontline. The situation is complicated by record high temperatures this summer, the inability to use aircraft for locust control and the absence of birds - locusts' natural predators - which are avoiding the combat zone. Local and government officials declined to provide data on the extent of the locust infestation or damage caused so far. Ukraine is the world's largest sunflower oil exporter and before the war ranked fifth among wheat exporters. Swarms of locusts are covering roads, fields and bushes in Zaporizhzhia region and farmers say the insects have destroyed up to a third of their sunflower crops. "We saw a big swarm. And the next day the 'infantry' marched in. The small ones, they ate everything that was hanging low, they ate everything," said Oleh Tolmatov, 46, a resident of Kushuhum village in Zaporizhzhia region. Russia, which invaded Ukraine in 2022, has partially occupied the southern Ukrainian regions of Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv and Kherson, forcing farmers to abandon their fields. Grains and oilseeds are traditional crops for these regions. "The reason for all of this is high temperatures, the reason for all of this is abandoned land, the reason for all of this is the corresponding Russian aggression," Vadym Chaikovskyi, Ukraine's Chief Phytosanitary Inspector, told Reuters. Denys Marchuk, deputy head of Ukraine's largest farm producers' union UAC, said that the destruction of the Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River by Russian troops two years ago had created huge swampy areas where locusts are breeding. Kyiv says that Russia blew up the Kakhovka dam in the summer of 2023, draining thousands of square kilometres of the former reservoir and leaving farms and Europe's largest nuclear power plant without water. (Reporting by Sergiy ChalyiWriting by Pavel PolityukEditing by Frances Kerry)
Straits Times
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Locusts spread in Ukraine's south as war disrupts control measures
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Swarms of locusts are covering roads, fields and bushes in Zaporizhzhia region. KUSHUHUM, Ukraine - A massive locust invasion is threatening sunflower and other crops in Ukraine's southern regions, largely caused by the war against Russia's invasion that makes it impossible to use traditional pest control methods, officials and producers say. Locusts, which can destroy huge areas of crops in a matter of days, traditionally breed in secluded places along rivers or in uncultivated areas, and controlling that is almost impossible in regions neighbouring the frontline. The situation is complicated by record high temperatures this summer, the inability to use aircraft for locust control and the absence of birds - locusts' natural predators - which are avoiding the combat zone. Local and government officials declined to provide data on the extent of the locust infestation or damage caused so far. Ukraine is the world's largest sunflower oil exporter, and before the war ranked fifth among wheat exporters. Swarms of locusts are covering roads, fields and bushes in Zaporizhzhia region and farmers say the insects have destroyed up to a third of their sunflower crops. "We saw a big swarm. And the next day the 'infantry' marched in. The small ones, they ate everything that was hanging low, they ate everything," said Mr Oleh Tolmatov, 46, a resident of Kushuhum village in Zaporizhzhia region. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore MHA to support HSA's crackdown on Kpod abusers and help in treatment of offenders: Shanmugam Business S'pore's economic resilience will face headwinds in second half of 2025 from tariffs, trade conflicts: MAS Business S'pore's Q2 total employment rises, but infocomm and professional services sectors see more job cuts Singapore Fewer than 1 in 5 people noticed suspicious items during MHA's social experiments Asia Powerful 8.8-magnitude quake in Russia's far east causes tsunami; Japan, Hawaii order evacuations Singapore Migrant workers who gave kickbacks to renew work passes were conservancy workers at AMK Town Council Asia Japan, Vietnam, EU contest terms of US tariff deals behind the scenes Singapore Escape, discover, connect: Where new memories are made Russia, which invaded Ukraine in 2022, has partially occupied the southern Ukrainian regions of Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv and Kherson, forcing farmers to abandon their fields. Grains and oilseeds are traditional crops for these regions. "The reason for all of this is high temperatures, the reason for all of this is abandoned land, the reason for all of this is the corresponding Russian aggression," Mr Vadym Chaikovskyi, Ukraine's Chief Phytosanitary Inspector, told Reuters. Mr Denys Marchuk, deputy head of Ukraine's largest farm producers' union UAC, said that the destruction of the Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River by Russian troops two years ago had created huge swampy areas where locusts are breeding. Kyiv says that Russia blew up the Kakhovka dam in the summer of 2023, draining thousands of square kilometres of the former reservoir and leaving farms and Europe's largest nuclear power plant without water. REUTERS
