A special plant protection regime has been introduced in Ukraine's Kherson region after locust outbreaks were detected across approximately 155 hectares of agricultural land. The measure is intended to contain the infestation and prevent further spread to neighboring farming areas. Authorities have also established a buffer zone around the affected locations, where enhanced monitoring and control measures are being carried out.
According to Ukraine's State Service on Food Safety and Consumer Protection, the special regime currently applies only in the Kherson and Dnipropetrovsk regions. While officials report that part of the locust population in Kherson has already begun to decline, the risk of further spread remains, particularly to the southern and southeastern regions of the country, including Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, and Odesa.
Agricultural specialists warn that locusts can spread rapidly and cause severe damage to grain, oilseed, and forage crops. Farmers are therefore encouraged to regularly inspect crop fields, pastures, roadsides, and uncultivated land. Any suspected infestations should be reported immediately to local phytosanitary authorities so that additional inspections and appropriate control measures can be implemented.
Experts emphasize that early detection and rapid containment remain the most effective tools for preventing large-scale outbreaks. With prolonged heat and drought creating favorable conditions for locust development, intensive phytosanitary monitoring is expected to remain a priority across southern Ukraine in the coming weeks.