In Kyiv, Easter cakes made from flour sourced from de-mined Ukrainian fields were baked as part of the Soul of Soil 2.0 project.
"The "Soul of the Land" initiative embodies the resilience and spirit of Ukraine. Before Easter, we must remember that every loaf of bread, every Easter cake on our tables, is the result of many stories of courage – from the dedication of farmers, the bravery of sappers, and the unwavering support of the international community. Our collective efforts in de-mining are not just about restoring the land; they are about restoring life and ensuring a future in which Ukrainian land will play a vital role in providing food for the whole world," said Matthias Schmale, Assistant Secretary-General, UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine, and Humanitarian Coordinator.
According to the press service of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, the flour was milled in Mykolaiv from wheat grown by farmer Oleksii Rudenko on de-mined fields in Kherson and Mykolaiv regions. In these areas, sappers have already cleared 1,800 hectares. In total, sappers have cleared 35,000 square kilometers of land across Ukraine.
"Currently, Ukraine is the most mine-contaminated country in the world — 139,000 square meters are potentially mined. The goal of this initiative is to show the world the true cost of Ukrainian bread," said Minister of Economy Yuliya Svyrydenko.
As part of the Soul of Soil 2.0 project, six chefs will bake Easter cakes from "de-mined" flour in various cities of Ukraine.
The first masterclass on baking was held by Yevhen Klopotenko in Kyiv, with foreign ambassadors and representatives of international organizations also participating in the event. In addition, chefs Leonid Malyuha (L'OR Cafe & Boutique) in Lviv, Andriy Vorona (Giannivino) in Dnipro, Oleksandr Tsepkovskyi in Kharkiv, Ihor Zrazhevskiy (Como Italy Bistro) in Odessa, and Georgiy Asiryian and Yuliya Khiznychenko in Mykolaiv will also bake Easter cakes.
Baking Easter cakes from flour made from de-mined fields in the liberated Kherson region is just part of the Soul of Soil 2.0 project.
