Russia’s biggest listed agricultural company Rusagro said on Friday it had shut down three pig farms in the Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine and has been a target of frequent attacks during the conflict.
The company cited high risks for farm personnel as the reason for the decision.
The region is a major producer of meat, grain and sugar. The closure of the farms reduced Rusagro’s pork output by about 4% to 141,000 tons in the first quarter, the company said.
Rusagro bought the farms in 2024, seeking to boost its pork production and exports.
The deal was made under Rusagro’s founder, Vadim Moshkovich, who was charged with embezzlement last year in a case related to the company’s acquisition of a major oil and fat producer as part of its efforts to expand in that business.
(Reporting by Olga Popova; Writing by Gleb Bryanski; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
