Life is different when your home turns into a war zone. While about 3.9 million people have fled the danger, that's less than 10% of Ukraine's population. Most still live there, coping with tough circumstances. You've seen media photos of apartment buildings and shopping centers flattened and destroyed by Russian bombs. Where do those people live now, and where do they shop? Somewhere else.
Almost five thousand miles of highway is damaged or destroyed. That means truck lines which carry food products and other merchandise are disrupted. That means that businesses and stores can't always supply what their customers need, with more jobs and incomes lost.
Since they're a major exporter of agricultural products (called the "breadbasket" of Europe), Ukraine's war zone effect will be felt way beyond their border.
About 70% of their imported petrol and diesel is from Russia or its ally, Belarus. That's a problem since only one in five of their large agri-businesses now has enough fuel to do this spring's planting. One more big factor: there's a large number of men missing from the work force because they're fighting a war.
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