Lincolnshire has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Ukraine’s Kherson Oblast to explore agricultural cooperation. The agreement aims to support the war-affected region through knowledge-sharing and potential future business partnerships.
Oleksandr Prokudin, governor of Kherson Oblast, visited Lincoln on Thursday to formalise the partnership with Councillor Colin Davie of Lincolnshire County Council. Prokudin emphasised the agreement’s symbolic importance and highlighted the challenges facing Kherson, which remains largely under Russian occupation.
As part of his visit, Prokudin toured the University of Lincoln’s Riseholme campus, home to the Lincoln Institute for Agri-Food Technology (LIAT), and the Siemens factory. Davie expressed hopes that Lincolnshire’s farming and food industries could contribute expertise in research, technology, and innovation to aid Kherson’s agricultural sector. He also suggested future trade opportunities may emerge from the collaboration.
The announcement coincides with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s visit to Washington for discussions with US President Donald Trump on Ukraine and defence. Prokudin urged European leaders to remain vigilant, warning that Russian aggression could extend beyond Ukraine.