LocationsSoul of Soil: Ave Bread
What is the true value of Ukrainian bread?
For Ukrainians, bread is more than food: It is a symbol woven into daily life and traditions, marking respect, gratitude, and the beginning and end of important moments. Through bread, Ukrainians express their connection to the land, not as a resource, but as the foundation of life, memory and identity.
Russia’s full-scale invasion has left large areas of Ukraine’s fertile land at risk of contamination with explosive ordnance. Today, an estimated 22 percent of the country’s territory may potentially be contaminated with mines and other explosive ordnance.
Yet progress is being made. Thanks to the joint efforts of the Government of Ukraine, international partners, and the daily work of deminers, 5,203 square kilometres of land were returned to productive use in 2025 alone.
Bread as a life’s work
For chef Denys Komarenko of the gastronomic café Tarilka, bread is more than a craft – it is a calling. One of his proudest achievements is creating Kyiv artisan sourdough bread, made with a blend of flours, including whole grain. The result is a loaf with a distinctive taste and character.
“Since the full-scale invasion began, it’s not just the baking process that has changed. The whole life of the bakery has shifted,” Denys says. “Alongside the usual challenges, we now deal with power outages, disrupted logistics and supply delays. Two of our bakers joined the armed forces and are still on the front line.”
“Good bread takes time. Sourdough, in particular, takes anywhere from 18 to 24 hours to make. Most of that time is fermentation. That’s what shapes the flavour, aroma and character. In the end, it comes down to simple things: good flour, water, time and patience. And a slice of warm bread with a bit of unrefined sunflower oil – this is one of the simplest yet most expressive combinations in our cuisine. The crisp crust, soft crumb and rich, slightly nutty aroma of the oil create a deep, almost home-like taste.”
“Workshops change how people see bread. When you touch the dough, feel its warmth, and watch it transform during fermentation, you begin to understand how much time and care go into a single loaf. And when people feel that, bread regains its true value.”
“The Soul of Soil campaign is about land, its value and the need to make it safe again. For chefs, it’s important to support initiatives like this. Sometimes the most complex things can be expressed through food, through bread, through sharing a table.”
Demining is a path to community recovery
Chef Komarenko will host a special masterclass on Kyiv artisan sourdough bread to mark the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. The flour used for the bread comes from grain harvested on demined fields in Sumy Oblast.
“Every day, we face shelling—pausing production during air raid alerts and sheltering in bomb shelters—yet we keep going, driven by determination and belief in the future. Despite all the challenges, we do not give up and continue to invest in the growth of our enterprise,” said Maksym Rykhlivskyi, Director of Nyusfera LLC. “I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of this project and thankful to everyone supporting Ukraine, especially those in frontline areas.”
The sunflower oil comes from demined fields in Kharkiv Oblast, produced by a family of farmers – the Prykhodkos: father Viktor and son Andrii.
“We started making oil after the collapse of the collective farm where my parents worked,” Andrii recalls. “In the early 2000s, they received plots of land overgrown with weeds, so we had to find a way to bring them back to life.”
“After the de-occupation of the Izyum community, all the fields were mined. But when we learned that support was available for planting, we decided to go ahead with demining.”
“The oil is produced at a restored old mill near Izyum. Despite its proximity to the front line and ongoing shelling, it continues to operate. The oil is made through mechanical pressing. Before pressing, the sunflower seeds are roasted over fire – using husk waste or wood – which makes the oil environmentally friendly and gives it a rich, aromatic flavour,” he adds.
Unique dishes from demined fields
Twelve Kyiv restaurants have joined a campaign to support humanitarian demining and help restore Ukraine’s land. Starting 4 April, guests can try dishes made with unique ingredients grown on demined fields across the country. Part of the income will go to the Ukrainian fundraising platform UNITED24 to support humanitarian demining efforts.
The true value of these dishes goes far beyond what’s on the menu. They are made with ingredients grown on land that was, until recently, dangerous for life. Every harvest has only been possible thanks to the difficult and risky work of deminers, and the daily dedication of farmers who continue working despite constant attacks. Each dish from demined land is another step towards Ukraine’s recovery.
To try these special dishes come visit the following venues: Italian Edition, Favorite Uncle, Mirali, Bao, Nam, Himalaya, Afternun, Tisto Café & Bakery, Avtostantsiya Pizza, Budynok Velykoho Dyva, Tisto, Syr i Titka Bella, and the gastro café Tarilka.
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Soul of Soil: Ave Bread is a joint project of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the national platform Demine Ukraine, implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, and with support from the Government of the Netherlands.
The project aims to draw attention to the problem of the contamination of Ukrainian territory with mines and other explosive objects.
Ukraine is currently the most mine-contaminated country in the world. The war has caused widespread contamination of land with mines and explosive hazards. According to the National Mine Action Authority, more than one third of Ukraine’s territory – around 174,000 square kilometres – was considered potentially contaminated after the start of the full-scale invasion. By the end of 2025, this area had been reduced to 133,300 square kilometres. Even while the war continues, Ukraine has already returned over 40,000 square kilometres of land to use – 5,203 square kilometres of it in 2025 alone.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works closely with the Government of Ukraine to coordinate mine action, strengthen legislation, and mobilize international support. Key UNDP partners in this area include Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, the Republic of Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Japan.
With their support, UNDP delivers professional training for deminers, provides specialized equipment, and offers expert assistance. It also supports Ukrainian businesses working in mine action and helps introduce advanced technologies to speed up land clearance.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) also works with the Government of Ukraine and partners to restore agricultural land and support farmers in war-affected regions. Key FAO partners include Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, the European Union, Finland, France, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Switzerland and Croatia.
In cooperation with other mine action actors – such as the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) – FAO provides technical expertise and support to the agricultural sector.
This includes collecting and analysing data using satellite imagery, agricultural statistics and field assessments to identify the most critical areas for demining. FAO also provides direct support to farmers and rural households, helping them restore production on cleared land.
