Russian media is circulating an infographic that allegedly shows how Ukraine's territory has been entirely divided among various foreign companies.

“Everything has a price. The war in the DPR and LPR was, from the start, a war for resources for the West”, the creators of this fake content assert.

However, foreigners do not have access to Ukraine's land market. In 2020-2021, Ukraine passed a package of land reform laws, which included a compromise on granting foreigners access to the land market. This decision, however, requires approval through a nationwide referendum. Conducting such a referendum is impossible during martial law.

As Ukraine strives for EU membership, aligning its land legislation with EU laws represents the third and final stage of the land reform process. This reform aims to allow individuals and legal entities from EU member states to participate in Ukraine's land market, which is expected to benefit landowners the most.

In contrast, the reduction in arable land has been directly caused by Russia's military aggression against Ukraine. For example, the Kherson region, which accounted for 40% of Ukraine's annual vegetable harvest, has been severely impacted. Due to combat operations and the occupation of parts of the region, previously cultivated fields can no longer be used for their intended purpose. As a result, many entrepreneurs have been forced to relocate their businesses.

Thus, the rise in vegetable prices has no connection to Ukraine's pro-European path. Instead, it is a direct consequence of Russia's aggression. Propaganda efforts, however, aim to manipulate Ukrainian aspirations and frame the country’s distancing from Russia as the root cause of all issues, including the ongoing armed aggression.