"Milky strikes" in Volyn are the most ordinary PR. Its organizers found a weak spot, neglecting economic calculations," believes Ukrainian People's Deputy Ihor Yeremeyev, as he stated on July 16 during a press conference in Lutsk.
Responding to journalists' questions that perhaps the "milky strikes" were needed by its organizer, the head of the Association of Village Elders of Volyn Oleh Savchuk, in order to head the Rozhyshche Raion State Administration, Ihor Yeremeyev replied: "It is clear that this was PR – they found a weak spot. In the spring period, milk collection increases 4 times, and the price objectively should fall. And under the current government policy, there are simply no other options," claims the head of the People's Party faction in parliament.
"Summer milk is unprofitable. There is three times more of it than processors need," explained the People's Deputy. "It can be used to make unprofitable products – powdered milk, casein, etc. Then send it for export, because the Ukrainian market doesn't need it. This may cause surprise, but under the conditions that exist on the market today, powdered milk and casein are unprofitable products. The same problem exists in the USA or Germany. But there, when you produced and exported powdered milk, selling it, for example, at $1200 per tonne, you will receive another $2000 in subsidies. And we, having sold it at such a price, receive at most 20 percent VAT reimbursement, from which, perhaps, another 30 percent must be given as bribes so that it is returned to you in six months. We are realists...", Ihor Yeremeyev admitted.
"There are two options. Either don't collect this milk, and then people will get nothing, or pay the price that can be," he continues. "But I will not judge anyone for this or that behavior, because I believe that every person has the right to their own behavior, to their own understanding of things. And people will draw conclusions," added the People's Deputy.