Russia destroys 90% of Ukraine's retail food logistics

Recent Russian air attacks have destroyed around 90% of retailers' food logistics, Kyiv's agricultural minister said on Friday. 

According to Reuters news agency, both countries have stepped up strikes in recent weeks on economic targets like major retailers, with Russia targeting ‌warehouses for Ukraine's premier supermarket chains, top postal service and home-goods stores.

"As of today, roughly speaking, 90% of food logistics operated by retail chains have been destroyed, but that doesn't mean Ukrainians will be left without food," farm minister Taras Vysotskyi was cited by the Ukrinform agency as saying.

His comments to reporters in Kyiv are the most frank official assessment of the damage Russia's escalating strikes have brought on Ukraine's increasingly fragile economy in the fifth year of war.

In recent weeks, fresh fruit, vegetables, sugar, milk products and other food ⁠have occasionally disappeared from the shelves in some supermarkets in Kyiv as a result of strikes on logistics depots of food retailers.

Ukraine's long-range attacks have targeted Russia's top online retailers in addition to energy infrastructure and oil tankers in the Black and Azov Seas.