Astarta Halts Soybean Processing Plant After Russian Strike
Ukrainian agribusiness Astarta halted operations at its soybean processing plant in Globyno after a Russian airstrike on November 8 damaged the facility. No workers were reported injured, and specialists will assess the damage and losses.
Key points
- Astarta suspended operations at its soybean processing plant in Globyno after a Russian airstrike on November 8
- The plant sustained damage, but no workers were injured
- State Emergency Service specialists will inspect the site to assess damage and losses
- Astarta planned to launch a soy protein concentrate production line at the plant in the second half of 2026
- The company reported a net loss of €14.07 million in the first half of 2026, compared with a €42.27 million profit a year earlier
- Exports generated 62% of Astarta's sales in the first half of 2026
Why it matters
The strike disrupted production at one of Astarta's key processing assets, including a plant where the company planned to start a new soy protein concentrate line in the second half of 2026. The interruption comes amid a sharp decline in profitability, rising debt and a first-half loss, while exports account for 62% of the company's sales.
What happened
Astarta stopped operations at its Globyno soybean processing plant in Poltava Oblast after a Russian airstrike on November 8. The facility was damaged, although no workers were injured. The company will wait for an inspection by specialists from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine to determine the extent of the damage and financial losses.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian reporting focuses on the consequences for industrial infrastructure, including the suspension of production, confirmed damage and the forthcoming assessment of losses. Coverage also places the strike in the context of Astarta's investment in deep soybean processing and the planned launch of a soy protein concentrate line at Globyno.
Background
Astarta operates in eight Ukrainian regions. Its assets include six sugar plants, 220,000 hectares of land, dairy farms with 22,000 cattle, the Globyno oilseed extraction plant, seven elevators and a biogas complex. The company estimated its investment in deep soybean processing at $80 million in 2025, and the International Finance Corporation provided $40 million for the construction of a soy concentrate plant in May 2025. Astarta reported a €226 million debt at the latest available date.