Farmers in Ukraine in the southern province of Zaporizhzhia, which borders the frontline of the military war with Russia, are now ploughing their fields while wearing body armor.

Grad rockets began dropping right next door to the fields where contract farmer Yuri worked a week after the war began.

He now operates a tractor while wearing a bulletproof vest and a ballistic helmet given by his company, which he says he is used to from his time in the military. Farmers in the adjoining fields are doing the same.

Despite increased shelling in the area in recent weeks, Yuri, 41, and his coworker Oleksii are determined to plough the fields this spring.

“We go out, pass the checkpoints, get to work, drink tea and coffee, put on our vests and go. We fill up (the gas tank) and then go to the fields. If there is shelling, we pack up and go to the office,” said Yuri, who gave only his first name.

Oleksii, 43, described the Russian rocket assaults as “scary” but “manageable,” owing to their frequency at night. Following an attack, individuals inspect the fields and, if necessary, call in experts to assist in the removal of rockets and debris.

Ukraine is the world’s fifth-largest wheat exporter, as well as a top-three exporter of maize, barley, and sunflower seeds. The shortage of Ukrainian grain on global markets as a result of the war has driven up global food costs.

Last week, Ukraine’s agriculture ministry reported that farmers have sowed 2.5 million hectares of spring crops so far this year, accounting for 20% of the planned area, but that the spring sowing area could decline by 20% as a result of the Russian invasion.

Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a “special operation” to disarm Ukraine and protect it from fascists. Ukraine and the West say this is a false pretext for an unprovoked war of aggression by President Vladimir Putin.

For the latest International News Follow BOL News on Google News. Read more on Latest International News on oldsite.bolnews.com