Key facts
- Oleshky has been under Russian occupation since 2022 and is experiencing severe shortages of food and water.
- Two civilians were killed by a drone on September 20 while trying to obtain food.
- The city has been without electricity, gas, or water since the Nova Kakhovka Dam collapsed in 2023.
- An estimated 6,000 people remain in Oleshky, including 200 children, many suffering from malnutrition.
- Only one hospital is partially operational, opening a few days a week.
- Russia's Foreign Ministry acknowledged a "critical situation" and "problems with supplies" in Oleshky.
Residents of the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky are facing dire conditions, with widespread shortages of food, water, and medical services, according to accounts from locals and Ukrainian officials. The city, located in southern Kherson, has been under Russian control since 2022 and is situated between the Dnipro River and Russian forces.
Recent reports indicate that civilians are risking their lives to find basic necessities. On September 20, a husband and wife were killed by a drone while attempting to bring food from the nearby town of Radensk, 23km away, before a curfew was imposed. Four separate sources confirmed these deaths.
Many residents are surviving on a single meal a day and have resorted to eating garden weeds, as shops are closed and no food deliveries have been made since May. The city has been without electricity, gas, or water since the Nova Kakhovka Dam collapsed in 2023, an event for which Ukraine and Russia blame each other.
Ukraine's government estimates that approximately 6,000 people remain in Oleshky, including 200 children, who are reportedly suffering from malnutrition and lack of education. Medical services are severely limited, with only one hospital partially operational.
The Kremlin has acknowledged a "critical situation" and "problems with supplies" in Oleshky, but blamed Kyiv for the issues. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha described the situation as a "full blockade" by Russian forces and called for international pressure on Russia to allow humanitarian aid.
Volunteers are attempting to deliver aid and facilitate evacuations, with one volunteer, Ksenia Arkhipova, reportedly compiling a list of around 1,200 deaths since the city was occupied. Another resident, Tetiana, stated her parents were shot in their home by Russian soldiers who wanted to take it. Residents also report that Russian occupation authorities restrict burials for those killed by drones or landmines, leading to bodies being left on streets or in the hospital morgue.