Ukraine is the world’s largest exporter of sunflower oil; farmers are unable to move their crops as they struggle to make ends meet while contributing to the war effort.

Sunflower oil prices are skyrocketing over the world; but Roman Tarasevich is trapped with a mound of sunflower seeds he can’t move.

Ukraine is the world’s largest exporter of sunflower oil; the Russian invasion has made growing, production, and shipping all but impossible; driving up worldwide costs and sending buyers scurrying for limited bottles of the oil popularly used in cooking from London to New Delhi.
“We’re going to suffer a financial hit,” she says. “But right now, I just don’t want to worry about it, so we’re working.”

Tarasevich, 46, said this while standing next to a stack of unsold sunflower seeds at a farm warehouse in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine. He was visibly distressed as he told how he had held onto last year’s harvest in order to negotiate a higher price; but had been caught off guard by Russia’s invasion on February 24. Since then, ports have been closed, fuel has been limited, and insurance costs have skyrocketed.