Russia is planning to expand its sunflower sowing areas significantly, with a targeted increase to 10.9 million hectares for this year. This expansion includes the occupied region of Luhansk Oblast, where it intends to add approximately 45,000 hectares. This move reflects broader agricultural strategies by Russia as it seeks to increase food production in regions that were previously less utilized for such crops.

Analysts from the Russian analytical center RUSEED indicated that the sunflower sowing is extending beyond traditional southern Russia into the eastern territories that they classify as "new territories". The changes underscore a shift in agricultural practices, as the sunflower crop becomes a more central part of Russia's agricultural landscape in these regions, marking a strategic pivot in response to agricultural demands.

With additional planned expansions in various Russian areas, such as Altai Krai, Republic of Tatarstan, and Kurgan Oblast, this initiative not only emphasizes Russia's agricultural ambitions but also illustrates the geopolitical implications of agricultural practices in occupied territories. The involvement of Belarus in the illegal exportation of agricultural goods further complicates the situation, indicating a broader regional strategy involving both nations in leveraging agricultural resources from disputed and occupied regions.