Russian strikes leave Kyiv supermarkets with empty shelves
Ukrainian supermarkets have rarely hinted at the ongoing war, with grocery stores remaining well stocked with local and imported goods despite Russia's full-scale invasion. It all changed late last week. A deadly Russian ballistic missile attack on Aug. 5 targeted warehouses belonging to various supermarket chains and other civilian enterprises, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media.…
Russian strikes have left supermarkets in Kyiv with empty shelves, a stark reminder of the ongoing war. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced a missile attack on August 5 that targeted warehouses belonging to supermarket chains and other businesses. Since then, everyday products like vegetables, dairy, and meat have been scarce or absent in some stores.
Customers are buying more than usual, anticipating further shortages. Nina, a screenwriter, found her online order from a Ukrainian supermarket chain missing several items. Six employees of Silpo, another supermarket chain, were killed in an attack on its distribution centers. Novus, another chain, suffered a blow when its logistics center was hit for the second time.
Residents recall the shock of seeing a fully stocked supermarket after fleeing Kyiv in 2022, contrasting it with the current situation. While Kyiv's food supply is not as dire as during the early days of the invasion, empty shelves still evoke memories of that period. Many residents are stockpiling non-perishables like salt and oil, preparing for potential worst-case scenarios.
Some stores have put signs on bare shelves indicating Russian destruction. The disruption has affected major distributors and retailers, with a Rozetka distribution warehouse being completely destroyed in the attack. Despite these challenges, supermarkets are working to restore normal distribution, with restocking expected by August 24, Ukraine's Independence Day.
The empty shelves serve as a reminder of the potential for further shortages, particularly in the winter.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
