Humanitarian disaster in Oleshky: what is happening in the occupied city

Destroyed houses in Oleshky. Photo: Suspline

In the temporarily occupied Oleshky in Kherson region, the humanitarian situation has continued to deteriorate over the past months. About two thousand people remain without stable access to water, food, electricity, and the ability to safely leave the city. Deputy Speaker of the European Parliament Pina Picerno has declared a hunger strike to draw the international community's attention to the humanitarian disaster in Oleshky.

News.LIVE has gathered everything that is known as of now about the situation in the city.

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Oleshky under occupation: without electricity, gas, and water

Oleshky has been under Russian occupation since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. According to Tetiana Hasanenko, head of the Oleshky City Military Administration, the community has been living for four years without gas supply and electricity.

A separate problem has been water. After the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Station, in 2023 year the city lost a centralized source of drinking water. By autumn 2026 year, the lack of basic utilities combined with food shortages and restrictions on civilian movement.

A drone view of the ruined Oleshky. Photo: frame from video 34 OBMP, Suspline.

According to member of parliament Serhiy Kozyr, people in winter were forced to draw water from heating pipes. He also said that due to food shortages residents began growing food directly in apartments — notably potatoes and other vegetables.

Attempts by Ukrainians to leave the city

One of the major problems for residents was that they could not safely leave Oleshky.

The Ukrainian side, according to ombudsperson Dmytro Lubinets, proposed several evacuation options for civilians from the city and surrounding settlements. Among them are a one-day cessation of hostilities in the area to conduct an organized exit of people, and a land corridor to territory under Russian control.

Lubinets said the Ukrainian side supported these scenarios and conducted relevant negotiations. However, the agreements could not be implemented.

By mid-summer, on this territory there remained about 6000 civilians, including roughly 200 children. The discussion encompassed not only Oleshky but also five other settlements in the community where food and medicines were also in short supply.

Subsequently, some individuals managed to leave the city on their own. According to Oleshky MVA, a small group of 10–12 people walked roughly 23–25 kilometers through mined territory toward Radenske.

After Russian troops learned of this route, neighboring fields and roads were additionally mined, Hasanenko said. Thus the possibility of independent exit from Oleshky effectively disappeared.

Meanwhile, Alexander Tolokonnikov, a representative of Kherson OVA, reported that at the end of the summer another group of 11 people left toward Radenske. After that, according to him, there was no information about their further experience.

In Oleshky, a severely difficult situation with food and medicines

In September, Ukrainian officials began publicly speaking about a humanitarian disaster in the occupied Oleshky.

Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga stated that during the month deliveries of food, medicines, and other essentials were blocked to the city. He said that in Oleshky, where about 24 thousand people lived before the full-scale invasion, there were about 2000 residents at that time.

Sibiga also reported the absence of electricity and gas supply in the city. He said residents scavenged for leftovers and picked herbs to survive. He named attacks by Russian FPV drones on civilians as a separate danger.

Apartments where civilians live. Photo: frame from video 34 OBMP, Suspline.

Ukraine called for creating a humanitarian corridor for the delivery of aid and evacuation of civilians. According to Sibiga, international humanitarian organizations and the International Committee of the Red Cross were ready to join, but, he claims, Russia did not grant the necessary access to the occupied territory.

Commander of the RUB-PAC SpP “Bolgarichi” 11-rd company of the National Guard of Ukraine Serhiy Ivanov said that in Oleshky there is a sharp shortage of food, and its price is extremely high. According to him, a food package that costs 1,5–2 thousand hryvnias on territory under Ukrainian control could be valued at up to 50 thousand hryvnias in the occupied city. Before purchasing food, people who cooperate with the occupiers are usually allowed to buy, and those without money are forced to exchange valuables for food.

Residents of the temporarily occupied Oleshky report a severe shortage of food and medicines, as well as exorbitant prices for available goods. Ten eggs can cost 3 thousand Russian rubles — about 1573 hryvnias, and expired medicines are sold at 100 rubles per tablet. Locals also say the city lacks meat, flour, and bread, and many people's diets consist mainly of vegetables; due to medicine shortages some people must reduce their dosages.

Critical situation with medical assistance

Executive Director of the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union Oleksandr Pavlichenko said on Ranok.LIVE that the entire city’s hospital now has only four doctors, who can provide only primary care due to a lack of medicines.

Also the dead in Oleshky are piled up in the hospital basement.

People begin to grow food where possible

By the end of September the food problem had become even more acute.

According to Serhiy Kozyr, locals try to stay inside their homes as much as possible due to the mine danger. At the same time, some people try to grow food themselves, even in apartments.

Kozyr said that people use any opportunity to obtain food and water. He said water was drawn from batteries last winter, and Russian troops, he claimed, do not allow civilians to freely leave the city.

Head of Kherson OVA Oleksandr Prokudin 24 in September said that fewer than two thousand people remained in Oleshky. In total, under similar conditions on the occupied left bank of Kherson region, about seven thousand civilians were reported.

Prokudin stated that Russian troops do not allow people to leave. Meanwhile Ukrainian volunteers from Save Ukraine help evacuate residents in small groups.

He also reported bodies of people lying on the streets, unburied. At the same time Ukrainian side is trying to deliver medicines and food to residents using drones.

Ukraine delivers food to Oleshky by drones

According to Kherson OVA, systematic delivery of food to Oleshky by drones has been ongoing since March 2026 year.

Involved units of 11-th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, 34-th Separate Marine Infantry Brigade “Borisfen” and other Ukrainian military formations.

Ukrainian drones deliver food to Oleshky. Photo: Kherson OVA

One of the latest operations was among the largest. According to Oleksandr Prokudin, the military managed to deliver about four tons of food to 100 designated locations in Oleshky.

However, delivering aid to all residents is impossible. According to the OVA, Russian troops try to hinder the work of Ukrainian drones, shoot down drones with food, and take delivered food.

Prokudin stated that residents who receive humanitarian aid may be detained, beaten, and held.

27 September, Kherson OVA representative Oleksandr Tolokonnikov confirmed that Russian troops take away aid from people that is delivered by Ukrainian drones. It is impossible to determine exactly how many residents received food. At the same time there is evidence that some aid was taken by people and then seized by Russian troops.

Attempts to deliver aid by vehicles also failed

The Ukrainian side tried to deliver products not only by drones. Tolokonnikov said that at the end of summer four minibuses attempted to bring aid to the city. The Russian troops attacked the vehicles with drones, after which the vehicles exploded on mines. After that, according to Kherson OVA representative, there were no new such attempts.

Nevertheless, the volume and frequency of aid deliveries to the city did not increase after the public prominence.

Deputy Head of Kherson OVA Oleksandr Tolokonnikov said that after special operations by Ukrainian defenders, the occupiers increased attention to the city. This concerns civilian assistance from the Armed Forces. Therefore, in his words, it will be extremely difficult to repeat the operation of delivering food.

“It is impossible to deliver such a large batch once and then again next week. The main issue is that we have to explore where the Russians have blind spots and now managed to deliver what will be enough for 2-3 weeks,” he said.

In Oleshky, the market has nearly disappeared

27 September journalist Oleh Baturin reported conversations with Oleshky residents who were among the last to leave the city this year.

According to his interlocutors, the local market has essentially disappeared. Goods are almost impossible to buy — they can only be traded.

Residents also spoke of cases of famine-related death. Due to lack of food, people gather portulaca in gardens, cook it, and eat it. At the same time they are almost constantly indoors due to street danger, and mobile connection in the city is unstable.

At the same time, information that residents of Oleshky allegedly massively eat dogs or rats was not confirmed by journalist’s sources. Due to poor communications, mined roads, ruined infrastructure, and constant danger, people may not know what is happening in other parts of the city.

What is happening with children in Oleshky

As of 28 September, in Oleshky itself there were about 40 children.

According to Tetiana Hasanenko, in total about 180 minors are in the temporarily occupied part of Oleshky community. The majority of adults who remain in the city are pensioners, people with disabilities, and those who need external care.

Stockpiles for winter, according to Hasanenko, could not be made. Currently some people eat only once a day. When a family has several spoons of grains or a few potatoes, that may be enough for one meal.

Five settlements of the community destroyed

The humanitarian situation affects not only Oleshky. According to Oleshky MVA, five settlements of the community are completely destroyed and there are no people left. Three more villages are wrecked by about 80%.

In other settlements of the community, the food situation is somewhat better than in Oleshky, but winter stockpiles are also absent there.

Evacuation from Oleshky

As of 28 September, about two thousand people remain in Oleshky. Tetiana Hasanenko clarified that talking about merely an “evacuation of difficulty” is no longer accurate. After mined routes, leaving the city has effectively become impossible.

The city remains without electricity, gas, and water. The most acute problem is lack of food, while opportunities for evacuation and delivering aid remain limited.

At the same time, Oleksandr Prokudin stated that approaching winter could further worsen civilians' situation. He said that now some people still hold on thanks to the harvest they managed to collect earlier, but with the onset of cold weather the situation could become much more difficult.

First Deputy Head of the Ukrainian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Serhiy Sobolev said that in Strasbourg they are raising the issue of Oleshky. The Council of Europe is preparing a decision to help ensure a humanitarian corridor, considering international pressure.

Recently Pope John Paul II (Leo XIV) appealed to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin to declare a truce for delivering humanitarian aid and evacuating civilians from the occupied Oleshky in Kherson region.

Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinec then said that Ukraine and Russia are negotiating the final details of evacuating residents of Oleshky and six nearby settlements. According to the Ukrainian side, there may remain about 6 thousand people, including up to 200 children.

Kherson OVA emphasizes that international pressure can force Russia to agree to open a humanitarian corridor. At the same time, the city’s situation remains critical due to shortages of food, water, and medicines. Negotiations on safe evacuation continue.

Ukraine initiated urgent consideration of the humanitarian disaster in Oleshky

Updated. Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga stated that Ukraine has initiated urgent consideration of the humanitarian disaster in the temporarily occupied Oleshky at the OSCE Permanent Council meeting. It will be discussed on Thursday, 1 October.

“The Ukrainian delegation will inform participating states about the terrible situation created by the Russian occupation authorities, who are holding civilians, including children, hostage. This is nothing but a man-made humanitarian disaster. We will continue to expose Russia’s cynical military propaganda and ensure the international community learns the truth about events in Oleshky,” he added.

The minister stressed that the situation in Oleshky is critical and requires immediate action by the international community.

OSCE appealed to Russia to ensure access to Oleshky

Updated. Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga reported the results of the OSCE meeting at Ukraine’s request. According to him, members of the Organization’s Standing Council urged Russia to provide international organizations access to the city and to supply the local residents with food and medicines, as well as enable safe evacuation.

“Now political calls must be translated into practical steps: ensure full and immediate humanitarian access, increase pressure on the aggressor, and hold accountable those who knowingly created this man-made disaster,” Sibiga concluded.

Ukrainian forces delivered 4 tons of aid to temporarily occupied Oleshky

Ukrainian defenders again delivered humanitarian aid by drones to Oleshky residents, delivering 4 October about 400 aid packages containing food, medicines, and children’s kits. Total weight of the cargo was 4 tons.

A video of the humanitarian operation was published by Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Vygivskyi on Facebook. The official reported that the mission involved soldiers of the 11-th Brigade of the National Guard named after Mykhailo Hrushevsky, the 34-rd Kherson Regiment of the National Guard of Ukraine, the 30-rd Marine Corps, the 34-th Separate Marine Brigade “Borisfen,” and the 79-th Border Guard Service.

Vygivskyi emphasized that the Defense Forces will continue to help Oleshky residents whom the Russians block from food, water, and medicines.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga commented on the humanitarian operation, posting on X:

“Ukrainian servicemen use technologies and skills of modern warfare to support civilian life behind the enemy lines. Deep respect to our National Guardsmen, marines, and border guards who planned and carried out this operation with extraordinary precision and professionalism. In every package that reaches Oleshky, there is a message — Ukraine does not forget its people.”

SBU warned about PSYOPs

The Security Service of Ukraine warned about Russia planning an information-psychological operation regarding temporarily occupied Oleshky.

According to the security service, Russian troops were tasked with recording a series of interviews with local residents who would accuse Ukrainian troops of shelling and blocking the city, criticize Ukrainian leadership decisions, and speak positively about the occupiers. The implementation of this campaign, according to the SBU, was planned for October — early November 2026 year. Citizens are urged not to spread unverified materials from enemy and pro-Russian resources.

People in Oleshky cook meals from weeds

Oleshky resident Volodymyr Kostian, who left there in March 2026 year, said residents suffer from hunger, and Russian troops are looting private cellars and taking food leftovers.

According to him, some people died from lack of food, and those without food are forced to cook meals from weeds. At the same time, about 30 children remain in Oleshky.

Critical situation with burying the dead: more than 90 bodies piled up in the hospital basement. Kostian said that due to high transport and burial costs, relatives cannot always properly say goodbye to the deceased.

Zelensky urged help for Oleshky

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky noted that Ukraine is trying to help Oleshky residents, but it is extremely difficult due to occupation.

“This is a place where Russians do not allow adults and children to obtain food. This is deliberate genocide,” he stressed.

At the same time, he thanked countries and people who help return Ukrainian communities and their residents under Ukraine’s control.

Vice President of the European Parliament announced hunger strike over Oleshky

Updated. Temporary Chargé d’Affaires of Ukraine in the United States Denys Senik compared the humanitarian disaster in occupied Oleshky with Holodomor years 1932–1933. He said Russian troops break into houses and forcibly take food from local residents. The diplomat stressed that Russia’s actions pose a threat not only to Ukraine but to other countries.

Soon it became known that the Vice President of the European Parliament Pina Picerno declared a hunger strike to draw international attention to the humanitarian disaster in Oleshky. She called for an immediate humanitarian truce, access to food and medicines, and safe evacuation of civilians. With her action, the politician supported Pope Leo XIV’s calls to help residents of the occupied city.

As N ews.LIVE reported, Kherson may be left without heating in winter due to damage to generating capacities and ongoing Russian shelling. The city’s heating networks are currently ready to operate, but repair of damaged equipment is hindered by the security situation. According to deputy head of Kherson ODA Oleksandr Tolokonnikov, the ability to consistently supply heat will depend on how Russia shells the city.

Director of the Center for Strategic Studies Razumkov’s Energy Programs Volodymyr Omelchenko stated that the greatest risk of losing heat will be in frontline regions, including Kherson, Chernihiv, and Sumy. He also sees separate risks for Odesa region due to its energy deficit and possible strikes on thermal generation and substations. The expert also named Kyiv as one of the regions with a high risk of heating problems if the capital's TPPs go offline.