Losses Reach UAH 12b or USD 330m as Russian Occupiers Leave Chornobaivske Egg Farm in Tatters

The Avangard Group, one of Ukraine’s top producers of chicken eggs, reports huge damage done by the Russian invasion to Europe’s largest factory egg farm – Chornobaivske. As a consequence of occupation, the farm has been ravaged and plundered. The death of 4.4m birds characterises the environmental situation in the region as an act of ecocide perpetrated by the occupiers.  

In early 2022, following a partial occupation of Ukraine by Russian invaders, Europe’s largest factory farm producing chicken eggs, Chornobaivske, was cut off from power supply disrupting the operation of its feeding lines, egg collection and shipment facilities and shuttle service for farm workers.  Thirst and hunger eventually killed some 4.4m birds. We managed to give away to the local population some of the eggs and birds from the farm amid heavy shelling in the early days of the invasion but most of the flock starved to death. The death of such a large number of birds without sustainable disposal is an extraordinary event, a true environmental disaster. This event was considered critical enough to be addressed during the UN General Assembly.

Following the occupation, the farm that had played a critical role in the economy of Kherson Province and the entire Ukrainian economy was plundered by Russian invaders.  Anything valuable was stolen, whatever couldn’t be stolen was damaged or destroyed.  The total losses of the Avangard group as a consequence of the Russian aggression have reached UAH12b or USD330m to date. In particular, total losses from the death of the birds amount to some UAH0.7b or USD20m.  The foregone revenue from the eggs that the lost flock would have laid has hit UAH5.8b or USD160m. The value of stolen or ravaged equipment is estimated at UAH5.5b or USD150m.

Furthermore, the effective destruction of a major industrial facility has caused a shortage of chicken eggs in Ukraine. Market supply has plummeted while prices have skyrocketed.  Importantly, Chornobaivske was Europe’s largest and one of the most technologically advanced facilities. The loss of such an enterprise is a loss not only to its owner. This is a loss for millions of Ukrainian consumers, as the supply of eggs, as one of the most affordable staples, has substantially diminished.

Kherson’s provincial prosecution authorities have instituted criminal proceedings into the mass extermination of animals potentially resulting in an environmental disaster under Article 441 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine ‘Ecocide’, as caused by the armed aggression of the russian federation against Ukraine and the shelling of Chornobaivka village.