Frontline Ukrainian farmers take up arms to defend agricultural operations

Agricultural operations near Ukraine's front lines face severe ongoing hazards as local farmers defend their land against military drone strikes. Viktor Hordienko, a former international logistics manager who once arranged global grain shipments across Europe and Asia, now uses a shotgun to protect his farm from aerial threats.

Hordienko’s situation underscores the profound impact of Russia's invasion on civilian lives and livelihoods. Before the conflict, his work centered on international trade coordination from Switzerland and France. Today, agricultural workers near active combat zones are forced to combine crop cultivation with direct defensive actions against reconnaissance and attack drones. Despite these operational dangers, frontline farmers continue working to secure critical regional food supplies amid continuous conflict.

Sources: LSM.