Kernel shut down all oilseed plants due to the fire risk following Russian attacks

After massive Russian attacks on the food industry, Ukrainian agricultural holding Kernel shut down all its oil extraction plants to avoid putting workers at risk of a major fire. The company’s press service announced the decision yesterday, November 12.

The agricultural holding also has a plant in the village of Bandurka, in Mykolaiv Oblast. However, the company’s statement did not mention any damage to that facility. Kernel has not published a list of the production sites affected by the recent strikes.

According to the holding, Russian drones targeted production facilities at Ukrainian processing plants over the past few days, including the company’s assets. The strikes damaged production buildings, equipment, and storage tanks.

Kernel explained that the full shutdown was necessary because of the nature of its production process: oil extraction plants operate on a continuous production cycle and pose an increased fire risk. A strike on operating equipment could cause a major fire and endanger workers’ lives. The plants have already completed safe shutdown procedures, and staff have been moved to safe areas.

In addition to halting production, the company has temporarily suspended seed purchases. However, product shipments are continuing thanks to existing warehouse stocks. The agricultural holding says it is continuing to meet its commitments to Ukrainian farmers and partners.

In total, Kernel has eight oil extraction plants in various regions of Ukraine. According to Interfax-Ukraine, two plants in Kharkiv Oblast have been out of operation since 2022 because of the war.

The agricultural holding is one of the largest producers and exporters of sunflower oil. It also produces soybean and rapeseed oil, as well as oilseed processing products. The company’s well-known brands include:

• Shchedry Dar;
• Stozhar;
• Chumak.

We previously reported:

• Kryvyi Rih shifts into “survival mode”: key enterprises shut down due to Russian attacks
• Russian missile strike destroys the Khortytsia plant: up to 4 million bottles of finished products lost
• Shahed night attack on Mykolaiv Oblast: fire breaks out at an agricultural enterprise
• Exports shrink, imports swell: Mykolaiv Oblast’s foreign trade in the first half of 2025
• Plants operated by two companies, including PepsiCo, resume work in Mykolaiv Oblast, says Kim