Ukrainians Face Starvation in Russian-Occupied Oleshky, Escape Routes Mined

Thousands of Ukrainians are facing starvation in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, located in southern Ukraine's Kherson Oblast. Russian forces have mined all escape routes, trapping approximately 2,000 residents and making it impossible to deliver essential food and medicine.

Constant Russian drone attacks and artillery shelling have further exacerbated the dire situation. The city, which once had a pre-war population of about 24,000, now sees its remaining inhabitants, including around 50 children, in a critical state. Residents have resorted to eating grass and searching for any edible items in destroyed buildings.

Ukraine's human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, described the situation as "hell" and stated on September 16 that residents are desperate to be saved. Those who die are no longer buried, as the mortuary has been bombed, and bodies reportedly lie in cellars or on the streets.

Volunteers were able to evacuate civilians from Oleshky earlier in the spring despite the risks, but current evacuation efforts are deemed too dangerous. The Russian military continues to use towns and villages on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River to launch attacks, and Oleshky is situated on this frontline, enduring shelling from both Ukrainian and Russian forces.

An anonymous resident told the Kyiv Independent that people are "driven to despair and are simply walking along mined roads" in an attempt to escape. The 62-mile route to the southern city of Skadovsk, referred to as the 'Death Road,' is fraught with danger from mines and Russian drones that target anything moving.

Kyiv had prepared a humanitarian evacuation mission, with the International Committee of the Red Cross expressing readiness to assist and Ukrainian forces prepared to ensure a ceasefire. However, the Kremlin has not confirmed its readiness to proceed, deepening the humanitarian crisis.

Tetiana Hasanenko, the exiled head of the Ukrainian Oleshky City Military Administration, stated that "Russia remains silent" on the situation. She noted that the last successful food delivery to Oleshky was on May 26. "There is absolutely no meat, flour, oil, butter, ready-made bread, and other basic products in the city," Hasanenko reported.

Attempts to deliver supplies have been met with attacks by Russian forces. On June 2, drones attacked vehicles carrying food, killing two drivers. On September 1, five vehicles attempting to deliver essential supplies were attacked by drones.

The local hospital is also severely impacted, deprived of basic medical supplies, electricity, and running water. Only four elderly doctors remain, able to do little more than "stop the bleeding." Since the destruction of the nearby Kakhovka Dam in 2023, the hospital has relied on generators, but fuel supplies have become scarce. Ambulances have been inoperable for years due to the danger posed by Moscow's drone campaign.

In recent weeks, some residents have begun fleeing to the neighboring village of Radensk by walking on mined roads, a journey that takes five to six hours. Volunteer coordinator Stefan Vorontsov of the Humanity NGO stated that while it was possible to leave by car a few months ago, walking is now the only option. Once in Radensk, volunteers can assist them further.

Civilians are increasingly concerned about surviving the winter without regular food, medicine, electricity, or reliable transport. Hasanenko described the mood as "panicked and depressed," with residents realizing that no evacuation has been organized during the summer months.

Lubinets estimated that approximately 6,000 people may remain in Oleshky and the surrounding area, including around 200 children. His office has identified 358 individuals in urgent need of assistance to leave safely.