--- title: "The enemy provokes panic: why empty shelves in Ukrainian stores are logistics, not hunger" description: "πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡¦ Panic is being whipped up on social media due to empty shelves in Ukrainian stores. CCD experts and retailers assure: this is only a temporary logistical failure after attacks, not real hunger. πŸ“‰ Andriy Kovalenko: \"There will be no shortage. The enemy wants to make us buy up the last buckwheat.\" 🚚 After strikes on Fozzy Group warehouses on the night of August 5, supplies were disrupted, but the network plans to fully restore the range by August 24. πŸ›‘ Main advice: do not fall for provocations and keep a cool head. There are enough goods in the country." date: 2026-08-13T11:46:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/logistical-shortage-ukraine-panic-shelves-en tags: [ukraine, retail, logistics, fuzz-group, information-war, food-security] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # The enemy provokes panic: why empty shelves in Ukrainian stores are logistics, not hunger ![Woman selecting potatoes in a Ukrainian supermarket, despite rumors of food shortages](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/13/logisticheskij-defitsit-ukraina-panika-polki/logisticheskij-defitsit-ukraina-panika-polki-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Empty shelves in stores are caused by temporary logistical failures, not a lack of products. - The CCD calls messages about shortages an information attack aimed at provoking panic. - Fozzy Group plans to restore the range by August 24, 2026. - Experts urge citizens not to stock up on goods in advance so as not to exacerbate the situation. Social media in Ukraine is seeing a surge of alarming messages about an alleged impending food crisis and empty supermarket shelves. However, experts and retail representatives insist that the situation is under control, and the observed gaps in the assortment are temporary and local. According to the Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD), this is a classic information attack aimed at destabilizing society by provoking panic buying. ### Logistical failure instead of a food crisis In an interview with RBC-Ukraine, the head of the CCD, Andriy Kovalenko, clearly distinguished between the concepts of "shortage" and "logistical delay." According to him, there is no lack of food products as such in the country. "There will be no shortage. There are empty shelves in some supermarkets, and there are not in others. Accordingly, this is a logistical shortage, not a food one," the expert emphasized. The supply situation has been complicated by a large-scale attack on infrastructure facilities. On the night of August 5, Russian drones and missiles struck four distribution centers of the largest retail chain, Fozzy Group. This led to a temporary disruption of supply chains. However, as Kovalenko notes, logistics, just like in the case of the 2022 fuel crisis, has a high degree of adaptability and will soon be restructured. ### Information war for the "last buckwheat" The goal of spreading rumors about empty shelves is not to inform citizens, but to create an artificial shortage. The enemy seeks to create an illusion in the population that control over the situation has been lost. "What does the enemy need? To create an illusion that no one controls anything, that the situation is uncontrollable, and people are forced to run to stores to buy up the last buckwheat," explained the head of the CCD. This tactic relies on the fact that mass panic and speculative demand will indeed empty the shelves, turning a temporary logistical problem into a real crisis of product availability. Experts urge citizens to keep a "cool head" and not fall for provocations, as there are enough goods in the country. ### Recovery plans: by August 24 Despite the damage to warehouses, retailers are already working on restoring normal operations. Fozzy Group, which suffered from the attack, has announced plans to fully restore the usual product range by Ukraine's Independence Day β€” August 24, 2026. This indicates that current difficulties are short-term and surmountable. ### Contradictory data While official sources and experts speak of the temporary nature of the problems, social media users share photos of empty shelves with certain categories of goods (for example, dairy products or meat). On the one hand, this confirms the existence of local logistical failures. On the other hand, retailers claim that these gaps are quickly filled by redistributing stocks from other warehouses. The difference in the perception of the situation is explained by the fact that in some areas of the city, supplies have already resumed, while in others, new trucks have not yet arrived. ### Recommendations for citizens Under current conditions, specialists recommend adhering to the principle of reasonable sufficiency. Buying food "in advance" beyond normal consumption only exacerbates the situation, creating an artificial shortage on the shelves for those who did not have time to stock up. "Don't play this game," Andriy Kovalenko urged. Calmness and rational behavior of citizens are the best protection against information sabotage. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Is there a real food shortage in Ukraine? **A:** No, according to the CCD, there is no shortage of food products. The problems are of a logistical nature. ### Q: When will supplies to stores be restored? **A:** Fozzy Group plans to fully restore the range by August 24, 2026. ### Q: Why are social media talking about empty shelves? **A:** This is part of an information campaign aimed at creating panic and provoking speculative demand.