Oleshky Faces a Dire Humanitarian Crisis
The city of Oleshky in Ukraine's Kherson region is on the brink of disaster. Captured by Russian forces on February 24, 2022, the city is now completely blockaded, leaving its roughly 2,000 remaining residents—including about 40 children—struggling with severe food shortages and a lack of humanitarian aid. The last food delivery arrived on May 26, 2023, but aid convoys have since stopped after several drivers were killed on the route.
The situation worsened dramatically in 2023 following an explosion at a dam, which caused extensive flooding throughout the city. Streets are littered with damaged apartment buildings, burned-out vehicles, and unburied bodies. Trapped under siege, residents are forced to scavenge for food in debris-filled basements—sometimes encountering Russian soldiers there. One local described their desperate situation:
“We’re cooking our last borscht with one beet, five potatoes, an onion, a zucchini, a tomato, and a little barley to thicken it. We have no carrots left.”
Blockade and Escalating Hardship
Ukrainian forces have attempted to send aid via drones, but many shipments are intercepted by Russian troops. The Kremlin accuses Ukraine of blocking evacuations and obstructing food and water deliveries. A driver who helped evacuate residents described the deadly journey:
“There’s 24 kilometers between life and death.”
Residents call the conditions a full-blown humanitarian catastrophe.
- “This is an apocalypse—there’s nothing left to eat,” one resident said.
- “No supplies, total blockade, constant drone attacks and fires. It feels like a horror movie,” added another.
Fear and uncertainty weigh heavily on those trapped. One individual shared: “We will surely die this fall. I’m already fading away, getting weaker every day.”
Russian forces have fortified Oleshky with artillery and drone units, making the situation even more dangerous for civilians. Since the war began, the city’s population has plummeted from over 20,000 to just about 2,000. This grim reality is emblematic of the suffering endured by Ukrainians living under occupation. As activist Mykola Stavytskyi emphasized, “This is a tragedy for all of us. These are our people—Ukrainians.”
While Ukrainian troops continue efforts to provide relief, Russian forces reportedly use civilians as human shields, preventing their departure. Despite the constant threat of hunger and violence, residents cling to hope for rescue and support. Humanitarian advocate Dmytro Lubinets urged: “These are our people. They’re still alive. Help us save them while there’s still time.”
The crisis in Oleshky highlights the devastating human cost of ongoing military conflict. The blockade and halted aid deliveries have trapped civilians between hostile forces, intensifying their suffering. This underscores the urgent need for international humanitarian intervention and coordinated evacuation efforts to prevent further loss of life in the region.
As the humanitarian crisis in Oleshky intensifies, international attention is crucial. In response to the dire conditions faced by the besieged residents, Ukraine has called for an urgent meeting of the OSCE to address the escalating emergency in the region. This meeting aims to shed light on the ongoing suffering and push for immediate action. To learn more about the Ukrainian government's efforts to tackle this pressing issue, read further regarding the humanitarian crisis in Oleshky.