{
  "id": 19463489,
  "title": "“We cooked over open fires but were afraid to go outside”: Evacuated residents of Oleshky describe life under siege",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/we-cooked-over-open-fires-but-were-afraid-to-go-outside-evacuated",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-11T07:10:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Insider",
    "slug": "the-insider",
    "url": "https://theins.press/en/confession/299400"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The town of Oleshky, situated on the Russian-occupied eastern side of the Dnipro River, had been experiencing a rapid deterioration in living conditions for several months prior to a limited ceasefire in late October. Residents were offered the opportunity to evacuate, which could be done via buses traveling either to Russia or back to Ukraine. Russian authorities, however, did not disclose the exact number of Oleshky residents who chose to leave or their intended destinations. Nevertheless, reports estimate that a larger number of buses carrying residents to Ukraine departed the town compared to those heading to Russia.\n\nAnastasia, born and raised in Oleshky for the past 17 years, vividly recalls the onset of the war on February 24, 2022, when Russian forces invaded her hometown. Within mere hours, Russian tanks, soldiers, helicopters, and planes were visible near her home. The family sought refuge in the basement, where they remained for ten days without venturing outside. During this time, they also sheltered neighbors who were serving in the military and destroyed their uniforms and documents. Eventually, the family moved to another residence within Oleshky.\n\nOne of the town's notable landmarks, the Antonivskyi Bridge, built by Anastasia's grandfather, was eventually destroyed by Russian forces during their retreat. Another devastating event was the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam, which led to the complete flooding of Anastasia's family home by the Dnipro River. The family had to retrieve their belongings via boat three months after the dam was blown up, and they had to cope with a lack of electricity and power for an extended period. Cooking over open fires became the norm, with bricks and plates serving as makeshift cooking surfaces. Food supplies dwindled, and there was no access to gas, leaving the family to rely on limited reserves.\n\nLife under siege was fraught with danger; Russian soldiers could enter homes at any time to inspect documents or remove individuals deemed undesired. Young women were particularly vulnerable, as they might face rape by soldiers. A neighbor who attempted to flee was detained and subsequently subjected to rape and imprisonment in a basement. Moreover, ambulances struggled to reach the town due to the belief that roads were mined by Russians, making escape nearly impossible. The limited food assistance available was distributed primarily to those living in private houses, while apartment dwellers faced severe starvation. Pensions and other forms of aid became increasingly difficult to access due to the ongoing siege.\n\nThe family managed to survive on a diet consisting mainly of buckwheat, rice, pasta, and vegetables, with occasional supplies obtained through air-dropped humanitarian aid. Despite the challenges, many managed to secure supplies, though prices often included significant markups. Communication was spotty, with phone signals being unreliable, and even obtaining news of humanitarian aid drops required a concerted effort. The town had witnessed several fatalities, including the death of a neighbor due to an explosion. Another neighbor, a 70-year-old woman, disappeared, and her friends became concerned, eventually discovering her by climbing over the town's fences.\n\nThroughout the siege, residents relied on various sources of energy, such as gasoline-powered generators, solar panels, and, occasionally, television or radio broadcasts. Most Ukrainians, however, tuned out Russian channels and broadcasts, as discussing such matters with strangers was perceived as dangerous. Ultimately, the decision to leave Oleshky was a collective one, grounded in the belief that this evacuation represented their final opportunity to find safety within Ukraine's borders, rather than in Russia or the occupied territories. Those who remained, the author emphasizes, require liberation and support to show they have not been forgotten.",
  "summary": "The largest humanitarian operation of the war in Ukraine — the evacuation of residents from Russian-occupied Oleshky — was completed on October 31. After safely returning to Ukrainian-controlled territory, several residents who evacuated from the besieged town told The Insider what they had endured over four and a half years of Russian occupation.",
  "key_points": [
    "Oleshky residents experienced deteriorating conditions for months before ceasefire.",
    "Many evacuated to Ukraine via buses, fewer headed to Russia.",
    "Family lived in basement for ten days, later cooked over open fires."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The siege of Oleshky forces civilians into a desperate struggle for survival where the lack of basic utilities and constant threat of violence make remaining in occupied territory increasingly untenable.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}