News from occupied Ukraine: Former Oleshky resident warns people 'won't survive this winter'

A woman who escaped the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in Kherson Oblast has predicted that its remaining residents may not survive the upcoming winter. Oleshky has been under Russian occupation since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. The woman, who wished to remain anonymous for safety reasons, highlighted severe food shortages, a lack of fuel for heating and cooking, and the destruction of wood reserves from the previous winter's cold.

She emphasized the near impossibility of survival for those still in the town. In a recent mediated ceasefire, U.S. First Lady Melania Trump facilitated safe evacuation of civilians and delivery of humanitarian aid to Oleshky. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Lubinets confirmed the agreement, stating that Ukraine would fulfill its part of the operation.

Despite the efforts, the woman expressed concerns that Russian authorities might prevent the evacuation from proceeding, fearing they might use the civilians as human shields. Stefan Vorontsov, a volunteer coordinator with the NGO Humanity, warned of potential Russian provocations and propaganda surrounding those who manage to flee.

A potential evacuation route from occupied Oleshky through Russia and Belarus to Ukraine has been considered, but the risk of Russian attacks and landmines has made organized evacuation impossible.