INDICATIVE ASSESSMENT OF FOOD SECURITY IN UKRAINE UNDER WAR CONDITIONS

Abstract

The article provides an indicative assessment of the current state of food security in Ukraine under conditions of prolonged war and economic instability. Food security is examined as a critical component of national economic and social security, whose disruption poses serious risks to population well-being, labor capacity, and long-term development prospects. The aim of the study is to assess the level of food security in Ukraine through the analysis of key national and international indicators and to identify systemic weaknesses in the existing monitoring framework.

The research reviews the provisions of the Food Security Strategy of Ukraine for the period up to 2027 and the updated Methodology for Calculating Food Security Indicators. The study identifies substantial shortcomings in the current system of assessment, including the absence of a unified set of evaluation criteria, insufficient structuring and availability of statistical data, limited coverage of household-level indicators, and the lack of indicators reflecting physical accessibility and food safety. Particular attention is paid to the inconsistency of threshold values across different components of food security and the difficulties of conducting a comprehensive diagnosis due to fragmented and outdated official statistics.

Based on data from national sources and international monitoring systems, including FAO and the SOFI reports, the analysis demonstrates that Ukraine faces a high level of food system vulnerability. More than one-third of the population experiences moderate or severe food insecurity, while the prevalence of undernourishment is nearly three times higher than the European average. The study also highlights significant disparities in comparison with European countries and the United States, particularly in terms of severe food insecurity and child growth retardation, which indicates long-term social and demographic risks.

The findings emphasize the urgent need to improve the national and regional food security monitoring system, enhance data transparency, expand the set of indicators, and strengthen state policy instruments aimed at ensuring economic and physical access to safe and nutritious food. The results can be used in the development of evidence-based food security policies, especially in the context of wartime challenges and post-war recovery.