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Oleschky residents face starvation in Russian-occupied Ukraine
Residents of the Russian-occupied city of Oleschky are facing a severe humanitarian crisis characterized by extreme food shortages and a lack of essential utilities. Since the end of May, land routes to the city have been blocked, leaving the remaining population of approximately 2,000 people—down from a pre-war population of 24,000—without reliable access to food or medical supplies.
Reports indicate that some civilians have resorted to eating grass and weeds to survive. To combat the starvation, Ukrainian forces have been using drones to drop food and medicine into the city since March. The situation is exacerbated by the presence of landmines on surrounding roads, the absence of electricity, heat, and running water, and the destruction of infrastructure following the Kakhovka Dam collapse in 2023.
Local authorities warn that the situation will deteriorate further as winter approaches. Both Russia and Ukraine have exchanged blame regarding the blockade, with Ukraine accusing Moscow of holding civilians hostage and Russia claiming Kyiv is blocking aid. No humanitarian corridors have been established to facilitate evacuations.
Entities
Dnipro · Dnipro River · Elwina Osmanowa · Kherson · Oleschky · Tetiana Hasanenko
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 5 SOURCES] The population of Oleschky has decreased from approximately 24,000 before the war to around 2,000 residents. www.leinetal24.de · mymotherlode.com · www1.folha.uol.com.br · www.mannheim24.de · www.merkur.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] No food has arrived via land routes to Oleschky since the end of May. www.leinetal24.de · www.mannheim24.de · www.merkur.de
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Roads leading out of Oleschky are mined. mymotherlode.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Ukrainian drones have been used to drop food and medical supplies into the occupied city since March. www.leinetal24.de · www.mannheim24.de · www.merkur.de
- [● 5 SOURCES] The city of Oleschky is currently under Russian occupation. www.leinetal24.de · mymotherlode.com · www1.folha.uol.com.br · www.mannheim24.de · www.merkur.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Food supplies in Oleschky are running out and the situation will worsen with the onset of winter. www.leinetal24.de · www.mannheim24.de · www.merkur.de
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The city lacks electricity, heat, and running water. mymotherlode.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Kakhovka Dam collapse in June 2023 caused flooding in the city. mymotherlode.com