In Oleshky, Russian soldiers confiscated food that Ukrainians had discarded

Russian soldiers confiscated food that Ukrainian troops had dropped for local residents in the occupied town of Oleshky. In addition, possessing food not produced in Russia could have served as grounds for detention on charges of alleged collaboration with the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

 

Tetyana Gasanenko, head of the Oleshky Municipal Administration, told Ukrinform about this.

“This isn’t the first time Ukrainian troops have dropped food from drones to people in the community, but the last time was the largest delivery yet—4 metric tons. Of course, some people received one package, some received several, and others didn’t get anything. As for the Russians taking these food supplies away from people—yes, they do. And they immediately ask questions if the food isn’t produced in Russia: ‘Where did you get it?’ And they say: ‘If the Ukrainian Armed Forces are dropping food for you, that means you’re collaborating with them.’ At the same time, the occupiers consider this to be Russian territory and view the local residents as Russian citizens who are violating Russian law by cooperating with the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” says Gasanenko.

According to her, people continue to disappear from the community, abducted by the Russians.

“People are being taken away; a family here has vanished without a trace. We don’t know where they are—they were taken to a basement, and that’s it. Whether they’re alive or not—we don’t know,” says the head of the local self-government body.

As a reminder, about 2,000 people remain in Oleshky.

The Ukrainian military used drones to deliver about 4 metric tons of food to residents of occupied Oleshky. The humanitarian aid was distributed among 100 designated locations in the city.

Russian units involved in the blockade of the city have been stationed in occupied Oleshky.