Nearly two months without food deliveries have left civilians in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky facing severe shortages, prompting some residents to risk dangerous journeys to escape. On August 17, Maria Zakhavko and her husband left the city, located on the southern bank of the Dnipro River, to seek safety, leaving behind elderly parents unable to make the treacherous 12-mile trip to the next town.
Once home to roughly 24,000 people, Oleshky is now at the center of a deepening humanitarian crisis. Ukrainian officials estimate about 2,000 civilians remain trapped as food runs critically low amid ongoing conflict and restricted access. The city has been under Russian control since early 2022, following the initial stages of the invasion.
Supply routes have been severely disrupted by land mines and drone activity, with the last volunteer food deliveries arriving in May. Multiple vehicles carrying aid reportedly struck mines, leading volunteers to cease their missions. Residents say they are forced to rely on homegrown vegetables, soups made from boiled weeds, and canned goods scavenged from deserted homes. Some undertake perilous 25-mile round trips by foot or bicycle into Russian-held territory to Radensk, the nearest town with available supplies, despite the danger posed by mines and armed forces.
Ukrainian troops have attempted to deliver aid by drone across the river, though officials say some shipments are intercepted by Russian forces or result in reprisals against recipients. According to residents, Russian soldiers have entered homes to consume available food supplies. Oleksandr Tolokonnikov, deputy head of Ukraine’s Kherson Regional Military Administration, accused Russian troops of using civilians as human shields, complicating Ukrainian military operations while also failing to provide for the local population. Each drone delivery, he noted, costs about $22,000.
In response, the Kremlin disputed these accounts, asserting there are only 200 civilians in Oleshky and accusing Ukraine of blocking their exit and restricting food and water supplies. Russian officials maintain they continue to deliver aid to the city.
Life in Oleshky has been difficult since the occupation began. In 2023, Russian forces destroyed a nearby dam, flooding parts of the city and dispersing land mines into residential areas. The town has suffered repeated shelling and widespread infrastructure damage, including loss of electricity, water, and gas. Most residents evacuated, leaving primarily elderly individuals who rely on open-fire cooking and endure constant drone surveillance.
Food scarcity intensified last winter when volunteer deliveries decreased. Market prices soared, with a dozen eggs reportedly costing $17. As supplies dwindled further this summer, some residents undertook hazardous trips to obtain food under increasingly risky conditions. Olena Solovyova, whose father made such a journey by bicycle, said the road had become more heavily mined and noted several recent fatalities among those attempting it. It remains unclear which side is responsible for the mines.
Since early October, Ukrainian forces have delivered approximately 10 tons of food and other supplies via drones. Tetiana Hasanenko, head of Oleshky’s city military administration operating from Ukrainian-held territory, described the deliveries as unannounced to avoid interception, though some residents received private notifications.
The local hospital remains operational but is critically short of medicines and essentials. Residents report severe shortages have hampered medical care, resulting in traumatic outcomes such as amputations. One former teacher injured by shrapnel required amputation after doctors lacked the necessary supplies to control bleeding. The hospital basement is said to be crowded with bodies.
Zakhavko and her husband’s successful escape highlights the ongoing peril faced by those trapped. “There are hundreds of people there who simply aren’t capable of leaving,” she said, expressing deep concern for her parents and others left behind amid dire conditions.