Ukraine is experiencing a deterioration in food availability, which is due to inflationary processes and seasonal price fluctuations. The Food Availability Index (FAI) in February 2025 decreased to 89% of the pre-war level, which indicates a significant burden on Ukrainian budgets.

Such data are provided in a study by the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE).

Before the start of the full-scale invasion, the average Ukrainian could purchase 9.5 food baskets. However, after only five months of the war, this figure fell by 19% due to a sharp increase in prices and a decrease in income by a third.

During 2023-2024, the situation improved somewhat: a decrease in vegetable prices during the harvest period and an increase in wages due to a labor shortage temporarily stabilized the market. However, since September 2024, the FAI has begun to decline again. At the beginning of 2025, it amounted to 8.5 food baskets, which confirms the incomplete restoration of food availability.

The highest level of IDP was recorded in the western regions of Ukraine - in Cherkasy, Chernivtsi and Rivne regions, where it reached 96% of the pre-war level. At the same time, in regions that are under constant attack and are located close to the front line, such as Zaporizhia, Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, the indicator is much lower - at 82-86%.

Pensioners, citizens with minimum wages and internally displaced persons (IDPs) suffered the most from the deterioration in food availability. In February 2025, the IDP for recipients of IDP payments fell to 62% of the pre-war level, and for pensioners - to 75%.

KSE analysts predict that the future level of food availability in Ukraine will depend on economic stability, inflation levels, and household incomes.