Only 60%: The “Yagotynske for Children” factory will partially resume operations following the Russian attack
20 June 15:09
A manufacturer of infant formula in Ukraine—the “Yagotynske for Children” plant—is preparing to resume production following a Russian attack. However, in the initial phase, the plant will only be able to operate at 60% of its former capacity. Serhiy Vovchenko, chairman of the supervisory board of JSC “Dairy Alliance,” spoke about this in an exclusive interview with Delo.ua, as reported by "Komersant Ukrainian".
What Survived and What Was Completely Destroyed
Despite extensive damage, the finished goods warehouse (located on the other side of the building) and the packaging lines were not affected. However, according to the plant’s director, there is currently nothing to package, as the second strike completely destroyed the fermentation area.
“The new automatic CIP washing system, worth over 600 thousand euros, which ensured the sterility of production, has been completely destroyed. The plant cannot operate without it. Debris also punctured one of the fermenters, where milk was fermented for yogurt and kefir,” noted the chairman of the supervisory board.
He added that while clearing the debris, specialists discovered that the debris had severed the low-voltage automation circuits and the steam and ice-water lines used for cooling. In addition, the general infrastructure was damaged—specifically, the gas meter and the plant’s high-voltage power lines.
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Restart Schedule: Why Only 60%?
The plant’s management has developed a phased plan to bring baby food back to the market. Since milk production does not require a fermentation process, it is planned to be the first to resume.
“We expect to begin producing ultra-pasteurized milk in various package sizes—one liter, half a liter, and 200 grams—within a month. However, it will take at least another month to resume production of the line of fermented milk products—yogurts and kefirs,” predicts Serhiy Vovchenko.
The main delay stems from the destroyed CIP washer, which cost €600,000. This is not off-the-shelf equipment; it is custom-made, a process that takes up to half a year. A temporary solution for the plant is the surviving old, previous washing station, which will be put into operation after minor repairs carried out in-house. However, technologically, it can only provide 60% of the plant’s former full capacity.
As a result, production volumes of children’s yogurts and kefirs will be reduced by 40% in the initial phase. As Serhiy Vovchenko notes, the company’s top priority right now is to resume operations, at least partially.
There will be no relocation
Despite the serious damage and risks, the company is not considering the option of relocating its facilities to other regions or sites.
“Only here. The plant is equipped with a unique set of packaging machinery that simply cannot be quickly moved to another site. It would take at least a year to dismantle, transport, and set up such a line elsewhere. That’s why we’ll be rebuilding here,” Serhiy Vovchenko concluded.
As a reminder, on June 5, the “Yagotynske for Children” baby food factory came under Russian attack. Despite significant damage to the facility, production is scheduled to resume as early as July.
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