KIEV. April 21 – Ukraine's Agricultural Policy and Food Ministry has said that farmers paid UAH 2 billion in advance to chemical enterprises under control of Dmytro Firtash's Ostchem Group, which has largely been shut down by the eastern conflict, for 300,000 tons of fertilizer.

"Under the signed contracts, 100% payments in advance for nitrogen fertilizers in the amount of up to 300,000 for almost UAH 2 billion were settled," the press service of the ministry said on Thursday.

Farmers hope that production at these enterprises would restore and the fertilizers will be supplied.