Ukraine

Ukraine is located in Eastern Europe and is the second largest country in Europe by area. The country had about 43 million inhabitants before the war. The capital Kyiv is located in the north of the country. In the south, Ukraine borders on the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea. In the Black Sea lies the Crimean peninsula, which has been occupied by Russia since 2014. In February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. Since then, there has been war and fighting in many parts of the country. Casualties are rising every day. Millions of people, mostly women and children, have fled the country. The United Nations estimates that at least five million Ukrainians will be forced to leave their homes. Ukraine is also one of the world's largest grain exporters and is known as the "breadbasket of Europe". The war in Ukraine is therefore driving up global grain prices and having a strong impact on the development of global hunger. Welthungerhilfe was not previously active in Ukraine, but since the beginning of the Ukrainian war has been supporting refugees in Ukraine and its neighboring countries through the European network Alliance2015 with seven aid organizations.