Ukraine's city of Oleshky faces starvation as Russia blocks all aid

The city of Oleshky in Ukraine's Kherson region is facing a devastating humanitarian crisis as Russia blocks all aid. Ukrainian forces have managed to deliver around 4 tonnes of food to the city via drone, but the Russian occupation forces have been actively obstructing these efforts. Since May 2022, no food has reached Oleshky through normal channels.

The city's population, down from 25,000 to around 2,000, is now at risk of starvation and death. Russian forces are shooting down food-carrying drones, confiscating supplies, and detaining residents found with humanitarian parcels. Residents rely on their own gardens for food and are forced to eat grass and weeds to survive. Conditions have worsened since the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam was destroyed in June 2023, causing widespread flooding and destruction.

International organizations have called for urgent humanitarian access to the city, but Russia has not agreed to this. The UN and the Council of Europe have described the situation as desperate, with thousands of civilians facing a serious threat to their lives and no access to food, medicine, or medical care.