In Russian-Occupied Oleshky, Civilians Struggle to Survive as Hunger Deepens

Live updates

1. 2h ago

   Starving Civilians Trapped in Russian-Occupied Oleshky

   Hundreds of residents in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in Ukraine face a severe humanitarian crisis with no access to electricity, food, or medicine. Trapped civilians must travel for hours on foot or by bicycle along mine-strewn roads to find sustenance, risking their lives on what has become known as a road of death. Kremlin authorities refuse to allow the evacuation of starving Ukrainians, and diplomatic communications between Ukraine and the Russian side have yielded no practical breakthrough for safe evacuations so far.

   Why it matters

   Oleshky has been under occupation since 2022 and suffered catastrophic flooding after the Kakhovka dam was destroyed in 2023, wiping out residential blocks and local infrastructure. In the fall of 2026, the city was cut off entirely, leaving remaining populations stranded without basic utilities. Relatives outside the zone struggle to maintain contact, sometimes having to call dozens of times just to connect.

   What is confirmed

   • Residents of Oleshky in Ukraine's Kherson region have lived under Russian occupation since 2022.
   • The city of Oleshky was flooded in 2023 after the Kakhovka dam was blown up, destroying residential blocks and infrastructure.
   • In the fall of 2026, Oleshky was cut off and left without electricity, food, or medicine.
   • Every way out of Oleshky is mined and blocked by Russian troops.
   • Kremlin authorities refuse to allow the evacuation of starving Ukrainians from the occupied area.
   • Ukraine continues communicating with the Russian side to arrange safe evacuations, but there has been no practical breakthrough.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Trapped civilians travel for hours by foot and bicycle along mine-strewn roads to get food and water.

   What to watch next

   • Any practical breakthroughs in evacuation negotiations between Ukraine and Russian authorities
   • Changes in access for humanitarian aid delivery into Oleshky
   Sources used for this update (10)

   1. www.atlanticcouncil.org — Starving Ukrainians must travel ‘road of death’ to flee ...
   2. www.themoscowtimes.com — In Russian-Occupied Oleshky, Civilians Struggle to Survive as ...
   3. meduza.io — ‘The smell of death is everywhere’: Inside the humanitarian ...
   4. The Moscow Times — In Russian-Occupied Oleshky, Civilians Struggle to Survive as Hunger Deepens
   5. WSJ — Starving Ukrainians Are Risking Death to Escape Their Front-Line Town
   6. Reuters — People in Russian-occupied Ukrainian town risk 'road of death' to get food
   7. Meduza — ‘The smell of death is everywhere’: Inside the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Russian-occupied Oleshky, where hundreds are trapped without food, electricity, or medicine
   8. mezha.net — Drones deliver 960 kg of food to frontline Beryslav | Mezha
   9. www.ukrinform.net — No breakthrough yet on evacuation of civilians from occupied Oleshky - Ukrinform
   10. www.france24.com — The Russian-occupied town in Ukraine facing starvation
   confidence 100%