The crisis state of the industry: how much has Ukrainian viticulture suffered

Domestic viticulture is on the verge of survival. Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the industry has suffered catastrophic losses. Hostilities, occupation and economic instability have led to a significant reduction in vineyard areas, a decrease in yields and the actual shutdown of many enterprises.

According to official data, the area under vineyards has almost halved - from 41 thousand hectares in 2021 to about 20 thousand hectares in 2023. This is the lowest figure in recent decades. A significant part of the vineyards remained in temporarily occupied territories, in particular in Crimea, Kherson, Zaporizhia and part of Mykolaiv regions.

The grape harvest has also almost halved. If in 2021 more than 300 thousand tons of grapes were harvested, then in 2023 - only about 165 thousand tons. In addition to hostilities, climate change played a significant role in reducing yields, in particular, abnormal spring frosts and droughts in the summer.

Processing plants also suffered losses. Wine production decreased by more than 60%. Some plants stopped operating due to damage to infrastructure or lack of raw materials. Others reoriented to the production of other products or completely stopped their activities.

In addition to physical destruction, the industry suffers from the loss of specialists and a lack of investment. Many experienced workers were mobilized or went abroad. Due to general instability, agricultural enterprises are unable to invest in upgrading equipment or restoring plantations.

Despite the difficult situation, the industry has the potential to recover. Experts believe that with state support, restoration of control over all territories and international assistance, viticulture can return to pre-war levels within 5–7 years. But this requires a clear strategy, support for farmers and investments in modern technologies.