Famine Warning Issued for Russian-Occupied Oleshky in Southern Ukraine

The town of Oleshky in the Russian-occupied part of Kherson region has been completely cut off from food and essential supplies for more than three months, raising fears of a humanitarian catastrophe, Deutsche Welle reports. The town's civilian population has had no access to regular food deliveries since the Russian military tightened its control of the area.

Failed negotiations

Ukraine's government has attempted to negotiate with Russia for the safe evacuation of Oleshky's civilians, but those talks have produced no tangible results. Moscow has not agreed to allow humanitarian corridors or civilian evacuations from the area.

Humanitarian situation

The blockade has left residents, many of them elderly, dependent on dwindling local stocks and whatever supplies individuals have managed to obtain through irregular channels. Aid organizations have been unable to reach the town due to active hostilities and Russian restrictions.

Context

Oleshky is located across the Dnipro River from the city of Kherson, which Ukraine liberated in November 2022. The Russian-controlled east bank of the river, including Oleshky, has remained occupied and largely inaccessible to humanitarian assistance throughout the war.