Residents of Russian-occupied Oleshky in Ukraine's Kherson region are struggling to survive as bombardment and damaged infrastructure leave about 2,000 people, including around 50 children, cut off from food, water, electricity, gas and medicine.
The town, which had a pre-war population of 24,000, has become a frontline area since Russian forces withdrew across the Dnipro River in late 2022.
Roads are mined and damaged, while deliveries have largely stopped, according to residents, volunteers and Ukrainian officials.
Residents Describe Destruction and Isolation
Lyudmila, an evacuated resident's relative whose name was changed for safety reasons, said communication with her sister in Oleshky is unreliable because of damaged networks.
"I hear occasional words, sometimes they're incomplete. The main thing is that I hear her voice," said Lyudmila.
She said her sister described widespread destruction and frequent strikes around the town.
"She says everything is destroyed, houses are often burning and strikes land nearby every five to 10 minutes," said Lyudmila.
A volunteer representative involved in civilian evacuations said infrastructure damage has made access nearly impossible.
"Everything has been smashed by drones. Residential buildings without damage can be counted on one hand.
It's practically impossible to get in or out," said the volunteer representative.
Food supplies have become increasingly scarce after delivery routes were disrupted.
One resident who escaped the town told The Moscow Times that people have searched for plants to eat while traveling on foot to nearby settlements for supplies.
"For the past two months, people have been eating grass," said the escaped resident.
Lyudmila said her sister walks about 23 kilometers to Radensk to buy food while caring for her husband, who was injured by shrapnel from a drone strike.
"By the time she gets back, her legs are completely swollen," said Lyudmila.
Aid Efforts and Competing Claims
Ukraine's Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets described the conditions as a severe humanitarian emergency and said residents face life-threatening choices.
"To blow up on a mine or die of hunger? People from Oleshky are forced to choose between two deaths," said Dmytro Lubinets.
Ukraine has blamed Moscow for the crisis, while Russian authorities have described conditions as critical and accused Kyiv of blocking civilian departures.
Volunteer groups continue evacuation efforts because international organizations are restricted from operating in occupied areas.
"We work wherever access is possible, but in Oleshky, it's the hardest," said the volunteer representative.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Ukrainian forces delivered food and medicine packages by drone after earlier efforts.
The latest delivery included nearly 400 packages weighing almost 4 metric tons, but some residents said they did not receive aid.
"Where they sent it and to whom is unknown. No one in their area received anything," said Lyudmila.
Ukraine's human rights office said efforts for a safe evacuation route were ongoing, including proposals for a localized ceasefire.
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine recorded at least 29 civilian deaths and 54 injuries in Oleshky and neighboring Hola Prystan by the end of June 2026.
