Former residents report food and medicine shortages in Oleshky — The Japan Times
Former residents of temporarily occupied Oleshky in Ukraine’s Kherson region report worsening shortages of food and medicines in the city. People who remain in contact with Oleshky residents said that limited communications and fear of reprisals by the occupation authorities make it difficult to obtain information directly, The Japan Times reports.
According to Olha, who is in contact with two families in Oleshky, the city lacks even flour for baking bread. She said that people are surviving on small supplies from their own vegetable gardens. Residents previously ate pigeons, but they are now difficult to find as well.
Former resident Yelyzaveta, who administers a social media group for city residents, said that people dream of having at least a candy or a piece of meat. According to her, the local hospital is also experiencing medicine shortages.
A city within drone range
Russia, an aggressor state, occupied Oleshky on the left bank of the Dnipro in 2022. The city’s population, which stood at about 24,000 people before Russia’s invasion, has now fallen to approximately 2,000. The city also suffered significant destruction after the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in 2023, which caused large-scale flooding along the Dnipro.
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Drone expert Olena Kryzhanovska noted that Oleshky is within the reach of drones from both sides. In her assessment, the sky over the city has become a constant combat zone, where drones hunt other drones and attack nearly any moving targets on the ground.
Aid and evacuation are complicated
The International Committee of the Red Cross reported numerous difficulties in delivering humanitarian aid to Oleshky and other communities near the front line. Ukrainian authorities said they had sent drones to drop food parcels, but according to Yelyzaveta, this aid is not enough for everyone. Some people did not know about the parcels or could not spot them, while those who received aid had to conceal it for safety reasons.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called the situation in the city desperate and urged Russia to ensure that civilians can evacuate. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that Russia must provide international organizations with full, safe and unhindered access to Oleshky, and civilians with food, medicine and a safe route out.
Former resident Serhii said that in mid-September he reached the village of Radensk on foot, covering more than 21 kilometers. At the same time, Yelyzaveta and Olha stressed that this route is dangerous because of mined roads and drones.
