There is growing belief that Russia is doing so, given its exit from the Black Sea grain deal and targeted attacks on food supplies in Ukraine
Joseph Stalin enforced collectivisation of agriculture in 1929, specifically targeting Ukraine. Its lands and produce were procured, leaving nothing for local consumption. Photo: iStock
On July 17, Russia declared its withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative. In July last year, the UN had negotiated the initiative to facilitate movement of grains from Ukraine after Russia invaded the country and blocked cargos on the Black Sea.
Immediately, grain prices soared and led to food insecurity in many poor and developing countries. Ukraine and Russia are the world’s largest exporters of grain and sunflower oil. One-third of African nations procure half their wheat demand from Ukraine.
Some 33.5 million tonnes of agricultural products have been traded under the Black Sea initiative. Russia’s withdrawal has disrupted food supply to countries that desperately need grains.
Russia has warned that “all ships in the Black Sea bound for Ukrainian ports will be considered potential military cargo”, meaning they will be attacked. It is not just import-dependent countries that have suffered. Ukraine also faces serious food insecurity.
What startled the world was the series of targeted attacks by Russia on Ukraine’s agricultural infrastructure, immediately after its exit. Russia bombed Odesa, Chornomorsk and Mykolaiv, port cities from where grains are usually exported and which were part of the initiative.
According to the Ukraine government, the attacks destroyed 60,000 tonnes of grains and shattered a lot of food storage infrastructure. Ukraine already produces nearly 40 per cent less grains than it used to before the invasion; vast farm areas are under occupation and agricultural activities have ceased. Russia laid mines in farms and has been destroying food shops and storages.
Read Down To Earth’s coverage of the Ukraine War
The attacks bring back a painful memory for Ukrainians—“Holodomor”. This Ukrainian word for “hunger extermination” refers to the famine of 1932-33 in the country, then a part of Soviet Russia.
Joseph Stalin enforced collectivisation of agriculture in 1929, specifically targeting Ukraine. Its lands and produce were procured, leaving nothing for local consumption. Many studies say some four million Ukrainians died of hunger.
Holodomor is a stark example of the “food/starvation as a weapon” tactic during war or conflict. It is as old as conflicts we have seen. The US’ first regulations for war conduct—the Lieber Code of 1863, signed by President Abraham Lincoln, which is still the basis for similar regulations—said it was “lawful to starve the hostile belligerent, armed or unarmed” to hasten surrender.
Former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger reportedly said later, “Who controls the food supply, controls the people.” During World War II, Adolf Hitler’s “Hunger Plan” killed over four million Soviet people; food was forcefully taken from them for German soldiers and civilians.
In May 2018, UN Security Council (UNSC) adopted Resolution 2417 that for the first time condemned “starvation as a method of warfare” and list sanctions for it.
Is Russia using food as a weapon? There is growing belief that it is, at least in Ukraine. The fragile centralised world food supply system—where a few countries produce most food while many others depend on them—seems to be a target for flexing strategic strength.
In many UNSC meetings after the Russian invasion, members deliberated on its targeted attacks as using “food as a weapon of war” in context of global food security. To continue with the grain deal, Russia demanded lifting sanctions on Russian Agricultural Bank and reopening supply lines to export agricultural machinery and parts.
Global leaders called Russia’s withdrawal and bombing an attack on everyone depending on foodgrains from Ukraine. Perhaps, it is a version of a food weapon that not just starves local people but also shatters a global supply chain.
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