Year of Award

2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

Master of Arts (MA)

Degree Name

Environmental Science and Natural Resource Journalism

Department or School/College

Journalism

Committee Chair

Nadia White

Committee Co-chair

Chris Dombrowski

Commitee Members

Nadia White, Chris Dombrowski, Joe Eaton

Keywords

Russo-Ukraine War, Agriculture, Kharkiv Oblast

Abstract

Rural Ukrainian Life Under, After, and Near Russian Occupation

Ukraine is endowed with several significant economic assets and plays a crucial role in global trade, particularly due to its rich agricultural resources and strategic location in Eastern Europe. Ukraine's agricultural strength largely stems from its geography and the quality of its soil. The country has about 41 million hectares of arable land, which is approximately 70% of its total land area. The soil is primarily chernozem, or black soil, which is highly fertile and rich in organic matter. This makes Ukraine's land among the most productive in the world.

When the Wind is Right aims to draw attention to the Russian state’s considerations of these factors via evidence of their tactical targeting of food production. It also documents other Geneva Convention violations committed during their drastic escalation of the Russo-Ukraine war.

Blending expository reportage and interview transcripts, it attempts to connect the larger ideas of total war with the felt effects of those on the ground.

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© Copyright 2026 Luke Matthew Kuennen