Oleshky Crisis Deepens Under Russian Occupation
The Oleshky crisis is worsening in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city, where residents report severe shortages of food, water and medical care alongside continuing attacks. One resident, identified as Halia, told the BBC that two civilians were recently killed by a drone while returning from a neighbouring town with food.
The victims, a husband and wife known to Halia, had travelled to Radensk, about 23km from Oleshky, to obtain supplies. They were unable to return before a curfew imposed by Russian occupation authorities and were subsequently killed by a drone, according to four separate sources who confirmed the deaths to the BBC.
Halia has asked that her real name not be published because of fears over her safety. She remains trapped in Oleshky, which has been under Russian occupation since 2022 and is positioned between the Dnipro River and Russian military positions.
Oleshky Ukraine Faces Severe Food Shortages
The Oleshky crisis has left residents struggling to find basic necessities. Halia said the city has no food supplies and that the last delivery she remembers receiving was in May.
She told the BBC that she now eats only once a day, usually having plain bread with a tomato or honey and tea. With vegetables becoming scarce, some residents have reportedly started cooking garden weeds to survive.
Local Telegram groups have become important for residents trying to identify which weeds can safely be eaten and how they should be prepared. Residents also use the groups to exchange, sell or share whatever food remains available.
There are no longer any functioning shops in Oleshky, leaving residents without reliable access to clothing, hygiene products or other essential goods. The city has also been without electricity, gas and water since the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in 2023.
Oleshky Civilians Trapped Without Aid
The Oleshky crisis has also created serious problems for children and people requiring medical treatment. The Ukrainian government estimates that about 6,000 people remain in Oleshky and surrounding areas, including around 200 children.
Residents have told the BBC that children are suffering from malnutrition and limited medical care. They also say children are being left without education and are deteriorating because of the conditions in the occupied area.
Only one hospital is reported to be partially operational, opening several days a week for critical treatment, including amputations. Attempts by Ukraine to deliver supplies to the area have not succeeded in recent months.
The Kremlin recently acknowledged that Oleshky was experiencing what it called a “critical situation”, including problems with food and medicine supplies. Russia said its military was working to address the shortages while blaming Kyiv for the situation.
Kherson Humanitarian Crisis Continues
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha described the population as living under a “full blockade” by Russian forces. Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, he urged the international community to pressure Russia to allow humanitarian assistance into Oleshky.
The city’s humanitarian problems were compounded by the collapse of the Nova Kakhovka Dam in June 2023. Floodwaters covered parts of Oleshky, destroying or damaging homes and infrastructure. Ukraine and NATO accused Russia of destroying the dam, while Russia blamed Ukraine.
Before Russia’s full-scale invasion, Oleshky had a population of about 24,000. The city’s current population is therefore considerably smaller, with many residents having left while others remain trapped by the conflict and dangerous conditions.
Oleshky Crisis Linked to Rising Civilian Deaths
Determining the number of people killed in Oleshky remains difficult. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine has documented reports of at least 29 civilians killed and 54 injured this year in Oleshky and nearby Hola Prystan.
Local volunteers believe the actual number could be significantly higher. Ksenia Arkhipova, who escaped Oleshky in 2022, has been maintaining a record of people reported killed in the city while helping efforts to deliver food and medicine and arrange evacuations.
Arkhipova says her records contain information on about 1,200 people who have died. She said the list continues to grow as residents are killed by drones or landmines, although the BBC has not independently verified her figures.
Another resident, identified as Tetiana, told the BBC that both of her parents were killed inside their home during the summer. She said Russian soldiers entered the property and wanted to take it, and that her parents were shot inside the house.
The accounts emerging from Oleshky illustrate the severe conditions facing civilians trapped in the occupied city, where food shortages, damaged infrastructure, limited healthcare and the continuing threat of violence have made everyday survival increasingly difficult.