Occupants blockade a town in Kherson region: residents are dying of hunger

A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in the occupied Oleshky on the left bank of the Kherson region. The town is virtually cut off from the world, with no normal supply of food, medicine or opportunity to leave. People are speaking frankly: they are starting to die of hunger.

This is reported by the Media Initiative for Human Rights, citing anonymous stories from residents and volunteers.

"We have enough flour left for one more loaf of bread, a few frozen pumpkins, some cereals and canned food," says one of the women who is still in the city.

Another resident says that in almost three months they have managed to get a dozen eggs only once, and they have not seen dairy products since the end of December. They cook right on the street on a stove.

The city has been under a de facto blockade since the end of 2025. According to the locals, the roads are mined, spikes are scattered on the highways, and any transport is regularly attacked by drones. People call the only way out of Oleshky the "road of death."

"To leave is almost guaranteed to either die or be injured," locals say.

Since then, there has been almost no food delivered to the town. Shops are closed, the market is closed. People are surviving on what they have left at home or what they can exchange with their neighbors.

When a truck with food broke through to the city in early January, a stampede ensued. Eyewitnesses say that in 15 minutes there was nothing left.

Now the situation has only worsened.

"People are already hunting for pheasants," says a volunteer helping with the evacuation.

According to her, there are already cases of residents dying of hunger, cold and lack of medical care in the city.

Locals say they gather near the hospital every day in the hope that someone will bring food. But it is in vain.

"We stand and wait every morning. But no one comes," says one of the women.

Drones can even attack crowds of people.

"You walk down the street and you don't know if it will be your last day," residents say.

According to people,the occupation authorities are not actually helping. The so-called "humanitarian aid" is rarely distributed and only to those who have Russian documents.

"It was humiliating, but what can you do when you are hungry. They gave us a few cans of stew and condensed milk," recalls a local resident.

Those who try to leave on their own are often not allowed to leave at checkpoints. People say that the Russian military can openly mock them and wish them death.

There are cases of civilian vehicles with food being attacked. One of the local entrepreneurs who tried to bring bread and money to people was killed.

"It seems like they just don't let us out to keep us here," residents say.

There is almost no medical care in the city. The wounded are rarely taken out, and this is also dangerous. Recently, a drone attacked even an ambulance.

People say that the dead are often not found immediately.

"It is not known how many people have already died in their homes - from cold, disease, and now from hunger," locals say.

Due to the lack of basic conditions, people are sometimes buried in bags.

"There are no coffins. There used to be some, but now there are none," says one of the women.

Another problem is the disappearance of people. Residents say that the Russian military take men away, and their fate is unknown.

Despite everything, people do not lose hope for rescue and ask only for one thing - to be allowed to leave.

"We are under occupation, but we are Ukrainians," they say.

The volunteers emphasize that the situation cannot be resolved without the intervention of the state and international organizations. The only real chance to save people is to create a humanitarian "green corridor".

"Volunteers can't do it alone. We need to negotiate at the state level. Otherwise, it will only get worse," they say.

According to various estimates, thousands of people remain in the city- mostly elderly, people with limited mobility and families with children. And for many of them, every day is a struggle for survival.

Андрій Колісніченко