Oryol Oblast: News

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And still, they plant: front-line farmers rebuild their businesses against all odds

Russian forces have repeatedly struck the dairy farm of 70-year-old Volodymyr Starychenko in Krolevets, Sumy Oblast, since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion. At times, Starychenko has wondered whether it makes sense to rebuild at all. With help from an international aid program, he keeps working, tending to his cattle and crops. Sumy Oblast, bordering Russia, faces frequent missile and drone strikes. For farmers here, every day means working under the threat of attack. In late 2024,

Starychenko stands next to his newly purchased tractor in Krolevets, Sumy Oblast, Ukraine, undated, October 2025.

About Oryol Oblast

Oryol Oblast is a federal subject of Russia, approximately 360 kilometers (224 miles) south of Moscow. Oryol Oblast covers 24,700 square kilometers (9,500 square miles) and has a population of around 730,000. Its administrative center is Oryol city. Ukrainian forces have conducted drone strikes on fuel depots and military facilities in Oryol Oblast since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

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