Oleschky residents face starvation under Russian blockade

Between 2,000 and 4,000 residents remain trapped in the southern Ukrainian town of Oleschky, which has been completely blockaded by Russian troops for months. Located just four kilometers from Kherson south of the Dnipro River, the town has seen no food deliveries since May 26, leading to extreme deprivation where residents resort to theft and bartering to survive.

The situation is exacerbated by the fact that those attempting to flee face life-threatening risks or are forcibly sent back by occupying soldiers. Reports indicate that Russian forces are holding hundreds of civilians hostage and blocking all humanitarian corridors and ceasefires. The town, which had a pre-war population of approximately 24,000, was also severely impacted by flooding following the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in June 2023.