Description
The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has placed food in the international spotlight. The two countries are global exporters of essential resources such as wheat and sunflower oil, representing key providers for many states in the global South. However, while an increasing number of studies has begun exploring the effects of the conflict on food security, less attention has been devoted to the strategic and tactical dimensions underlying these processes. What role does food play in Russia’s war on Ukraine? This paper addresses this question by introducing the concept of “food warfare.” Building on various strands of scholarship on food usage and dynamics of weaponization, it offers a framework for understanding and unpacking the manipulation of nourishment by state actors. As the paper shows, belligerents in Ukraine have deliberately resorted to food resources to undermine adversaries, turning them into both a means and a target of military actions. Specifically, five food warfare practices – siege, blockade, contamination, capture, and destruction – are identified as affecting conflict dynamics. Each practice is described conceptually and analysed within the framework of local operations. By shedding light on an overlooked dimension, the paper contributes to the research on conflict. As it concludes, there is a need to deepen awareness of the use of food on the ground, developing targeted initiatives to prevent manipulation while enhancing local resilience capacities.
