The Priceless Easter Paska: Baked in Kyiv Using Flour from Demined Fields 09.04.2025

A special Easter paska baking masterclass took place in Kyiv as part of the “Soul of Soil 2.0” project. The flour for the paskas was milled in Mykolaiv fr om wheat grown on liberated and demined fields in the Kherson and Mykolaiv regions.

“Soul of Soil 2.0” is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, and the Silpo supermarket chain.

“With this project, we aim to draw attention to the problem of explosive contamination of Ukrainian land. Today, Ukraine is the most mine-contaminated country in the world — 139,000 km² are potentially mined. The goal of this initiative is to show the world the true cost of Ukrainian bread,”
— said Yuliia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine.

She also noted that the wheat used in the “Soul of Soil 2.0” project was grown in Mala Oleksandrivka and other villages of Kherson and Mykolaiv regions, wh ere sappers cleared 1,800 hectares of land. In total, 35,000 square kilometers of land have already been returned to use in Ukraine.

“On the demined fields, farmer Oleksii Rudenko, together with his nephews, grew the wheat that was milled into flour in Mykolaiv — and it’s from this flour that the Easter paskas for the ‘Soul of Soil 2.0’ project were baked,”
— added the Minister of Economy.

In Kyiv, the masterclass was led by chef Yevhen Klopotenko, with participation from First Deputy Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko and ambassadors from various foreign countries.

During the class, guests were taught how to bake traditional paskas, shared their own recipes and baking tips, and learned the story behind the flour that came from the demined fields of Kherson. Each participant received a baked paska as a gift.

“The ‘Soul of Soil’ initiative embodies the resilience and spirit of Ukraine. As Easter approaches, we must remember that every loaf of bread, every paska on our tables, carries with it stories of courage — the dedication of farmers, the bravery of sappers, and the unwavering support of the international community. Our collective efforts in demining are not only about restoring land but restoring life — and ensuring a future in which Ukrainian soil once again plays a key role in feeding the world,”
— said Matthias Schmale, Assistant Secretary-General, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine.

Similar masterclasses will take place in five other major Ukrainian cities. The events are supported by leading Ukrainian chefs:

  • Leonid Maliuha in Lviv,
  • Andrii Vorona in Dnipro,
  • Oleksandr Tsepkovskyi in Kharkiv,
  • Ihor Zrazhevskyi in Odesa,
  • Heorhii Asirian and Yuliia Khiznichenko in Mykolaiv.

The paska baking masterclasses using flour from demined fields are hosted at Silpo stores — one of the project’s main partners. The first Kyiv masterclass gathered 35 participants.

“At Silpo, we bake bread every day, so we deeply understand the value of Ukrainian grain grown despite the war. With these masterclasses, we want to share — not through text or numbers, but through shared experience — the true worth of bread made from flour sourced from demined fields. Guests will learn the story behind the flour, discover baking secrets from top chefs, and take home a paska that can’t be bought — only made. It’s our way of saying to the people who are bringing life back to de-occupied lands: we see you, we value you, and we are endlessly grateful,”
— said Kateryna Ohuriaeva, Marketing Director at Silpo.

The baking of paskas from flour sourced in demined parts of Kherson is just one part of the “Soul of Soil 2.0” project.

As part of the project, organizers also created an Easter basket. In addition to paskas, it includes:

  • Hutsul-style pysanky (Easter eggs) painted by the mother of fallen paramedic Iryna Tsybukh,
  • embroidered cloths with willow branches made by grandmothers from the border region of Sumy — members of the “Moiim.Ridnym” social enterprise.

That region also remains at high risk due to landmines.

Additional Information:

The issue of humanitarian demining is coordinated by the First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine — Minister of Economy Yuliia Svyrydenko. The Ministry of Economy facilitates coordination between central executive authorities on matters related to humanitarian demining in Ukraine.

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