UKRAINIAN WINEMAKERS TEND VINES AMID RUSSIAN ROCKETS

Mykhailo Molchanov continues to work his vineyard in southern Ukraine despite an unexploded Russian rocket embedded in the soil between rows of Chardonnay grapes. The Molchanovs, who operate Steppe Wines, an organic vineyard planted in biodiverse grassland near the Southern Buh river, decided against removing the ordnance because the heavy machinery required would damage their vines. Molchanov and his wife Svitlana fled their home in Mykolaiv when Russia's full-scale invasion began on 24 February 2022, relocating to their winery as fighting intensified in early March.

The family found themselves positioned between opposing armies during the battle for Mykolaiv, with artillery from both sides operating nearby. Their wine cellar served as a functional bomb shelter during the heaviest fighting. The city of Mykolaiv, which sits on the opposite bank of the Southern Buh from the vineyard, held strategic importance as a Russian objective; its capture would have created a pathway towards the Black Sea port of Odesa. The small airport across the river became a frequent target during the conflict.

The Molchanovs' decision to remain and work their vines reflects a commitment to maintaining their operation during wartime. Their son Heorhii described witnessing rockets launching skyward during the early stages of combat. The family's choice to work around the embedded ordnance rather than extract it demonstrates their prioritisation of preserving the vineyard's productivity through the ongoing conflict.