Mined roads have cut off thousands of residents of the Oleshky community from the outside world

Despite the occupation, shelling, and the near-total lack of basic utilities, thousands of people remain in the Oleshky community. Authorities are exploring options for establishing a humanitarian corridor, but evacuating civilians remains extremely dangerous.

Thiswas reported by Rubrika.

About 6,000 residents remain in the Oleshky community, which is under Russian occupation. Among them are 182 children. The most difficult situation is in Oleshky itself, where about 1,700 people are currently staying, including more than 40 children.

According toTetyana Gasanenko, head of the Oleshky Municipal Administration, the city remains without centralized water and gas supplies. Following the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant in June 2023, residents have been forced to rely on water from wells. At the same time, due to constant shelling and the mining of roads, evacuating people is currently practically impossible.

Food shortages create additional difficulties. According to Gasanenko, commercial suppliers were last able to deliver food to Oleshky at the end of May. As early as the beginning of June, four vehicles attempting to enter the city were blown up by landmines. As a result, two people were killed, and another person suffered severe injuries and requires specialized medical care, but it is impossible to transport them out of the city.

Of the community’s 13 settlements, Krynky, Pidstepne, Pishchanivka, Sagi, and Zaplava have been completely destroyed. Three more villages—Kozachi Lageri, Solontsi, and Pidlisne—have suffered approximately 80% destruction. In other settlements, people continue to live under constant attack from Russian artillery and drones.

The Ukrainian side continues negotiations on establishing a humanitarian corridor to evacuate the civilian population. They plan to involve international mediators in this process, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, the OSCE, and the UN.

According toHanasenko, some progress has already been made in the negotiations, but the occupying authorities still show no willingness to cooperate. Discussions are currently ongoing at the highest level.

Before the full-scale war began, approximately 40,000 people lived in the Oleshky community. Today, the population has shrunk to about 6,000. In Oleshky itself, the number of residents has decreased from 24,000 to about 2,000 people.

However, while negotiations on evacuation are ongoing, people are leaving on their own, navigating minefields, checkpoints, and an arduous route through Russia and Belarus.

Анна Бальчінос