‘The blockade is complete’: Locals flee occupied south Ukraine as hunger deepens
Messages sent by residents in Oleshky and seen by ABC News tell of careful rationing of remaining food supplies, a chronic shortage of medication and constant attacks.
The southern Ukrainian city of Oleshky, under Russian occupation since 2022, has become a living hell for its remaining residents, local officials, and humanitarian workers have told ABC News. Thousands of people, down from a prewar population of around 40,000, are facing starvation as a complete blockade has cut off food supplies. Residents resort to rationing what little food remains and moving from abandoned house to house to avoid drone attacks and Russian troops.
Kseniia Arkhipova, a volunteer on the Ukrainian-controlled side of the river, says that a recent collapse of food supplies triggered a new wave of evacuations. In spring, a letter-writing campaign garnered enough attention to allow demining of local roads and the delivery of supplies, but this was halted in September when a convoy was attacked. Drones struck the convoy, then the drivers were shot, leaving them stranded for 100 kilometers.
To escape, residents must journey through mined roads and dangerous areas controlled by Russian forces. Those making it to Radensk, 14 miles east of Oleshky, may find temporary relief in food and shelter, but the path is fraught with dangers. Many have lost their identity documents and face interrogation and detention at Russian checkpoints. The cost to flee can reach $500 per person, covering food, accommodation, and transportation through Belarus.
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