Conflict is one of the largest drivers of food insecurity globally with more than half of the world’s undernourished living in areas affected by conflict. In February 2022, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine became a central driver of refugee movements in Europe, leading to the displacement of more than 3 million people within Ukraine and 6 million people abroad5. Besides directly impacting the food security of people forced to find new homes, the conflict has significantly disrupted the production and supply of food in Ukraine. Due to a lack of financial, physical, and social resources, refugees fleeing conflict are significantly more likely to face challenges accessing sufficient safe and nutritious food than other residents of host countries4.
This survey investigated how the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Europe’s largest conflict in the past decade, affected food security (defined as access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet dietary needs and food preferences) among Ukrainians who stayed, and refugees.