A warehouse rented by Ukrainian poultry company MHP was destroyed by a fire caused by shelling from Russian forces, causing the company to lose about US$8.5 million worth of poultry products.
According to a press release published on the London Stock Exchange website, a fire broke out at the warehouse in Kvitneve, Ukraine, due to shelling by the occupying forces on March 12. Frozen chicken products from MHP were in the warehouse, which is the largest cold storage facility in Ukraine.
The press release stated that no warehouse workers were injured.
According to the release, this is not the first food warehouse in the Kyiv and surrounding Ukrainian regions be destroyed by the Russian occupiers in recent days. In addition, the Russian forces are further jeopardizing food security in Ukraine by disrupting logistical operations.
Presently, around 8,500 metric tons of poultry, which has a potential financial impact of more than US$ 20 million, is at risk where MHP has a limited access to the warehouses in the southern regions of Ukraine and in the Kyiv region, primarily due to destroyed infrastructure supporting roads and railways.
MHP stated that it continues to focus on the care and wellbeing of the people of Ukraine. Currently, MHP has a key responsibility in the food security of the country and it continues its operations despite substantial difficulties in supply chain and logistics. MHP said it fully understands how important poultry production is for Ukraine and its population at such difficult times.
MHP earlier announced that it was suspending website operations due to fears over Russian cyberattacks.
MHP, formerly known as Myronivsky Hliboproduct, is the largest poultry producer in Ukraine, the second largest in Europe and 17th largest in the world, according to the Poultry International Top Companies survey. MHP is also Ukraine’s largest feed producer and the 60th largest feed producer in the world.
