Famine looms in occupied Oleshky as Russia blocks aid and evacuations
Ukrainian officials renew calls to evacuate the Russian-occupied town, saying Moscow is deliberately creating a humanitarian catastrophe.
What to know
- Food supplies to the occupied town of Oleshky have been cut off since May; residents face critical famine conditions with 6,000 people (including 180 children) estimated to remain.
- Ukrainian officials accuse Russia of deliberately blockading the town and obstructing aid deliveries and evacuation attempts; Russia blames Ukraine for the obstruction.
- Evacuation routes are heavily mined and require a 20-kilometer trek through dangerous territory; ambulance service has ceased after a driver was killed.
- The crisis is being highlighted ahead of the UN General Assembly as a key test of international pressure on Russia to establish humanitarian corridors.
“They don't let in aid, they loot people, they have brought things to the point of a humanitarian catastrophe.”
Stefan Vorontsov, Ukrainian volunteer coordinating evacuations · RTE News ↗ · Sep 20
Andriy Sybiga Ukrainian Foreign Minister
Dmytro Lubinets Kyiv's human rights commissioner
Dmitry Peskov Kremlin spokesmanTetiana Hasanenko Head of Oleshky City Military Administration (Kyiv-controlled)Stefan Vorontsov Ukrainian volunteer coordinating evacuations
How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts
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Resident testimony documents daily food scarcity and isolation
A resident named Halyna describes surviving on flatbread and tea, with the town operating under severe movement restrictions and food traded at exorbitant prices. She reports that ambulance service has ceased after a driver was killed, cutting off another avenue for potential evacuation.
“To be honest, I haven't eaten anything yet. My best option for today is a flatbread made of water and flour, as there's still some left. I spread apple sauce on it and make myself some tea without sugar. That's about it.”
— Halyna -
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🟠 UPDATE Zelenskyy to Address UN General Assembly on Ukraine Russian forces are delaying the creation of a humanitarian evacuation corridor for Oleshky in Kherson, where food supplies have been cut off since May, exacerbating famine risks for... 📰 https://www. dw.com/en/famine-threatens-the…
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https://www. dw.com/en/famine-threatens-the -ukrainian-town-of-oleshky-in-the-southern-kherson-region-as-russia-delays-creating-a-humanitarian-evacuation-corridor/a-79380887 .
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Warnings of famine grow in Ukrainian town of Oleshky https://www. dw.com/en/famine-threatens-the -ukrainian-town-of-oleshky-in-the-southern-kherson-region-as-russia-delays-creating-a-humanitarian-evacuation-corridor/a-79380887?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub Posted into Ukraine @ ukraine-thenewsdesk
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DW reports severe famine conditions and evacuation barriers in Oleshky — Detailed reporting reveals the town faces critical food shortages, with residents consuming minimal rations and facing heavily mined evacuation routes. An estimated 6,000 people remain, including 180 children, with no electricity, gas, or reliable water sources. Evacuation requires a perilous 20-kilometer trek through mined territory to reach Tarasivka.
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Ukrainian officials renew evacuation calls ahead of UN General Assembly
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga and human rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinets issue urgent calls for humanitarian evacuation, accusing Russia of deliberately blockading the town and creating a humanitarian catastrophe. The appeals coincide with the start of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York.
“Russia is deliberately creating a humanitarian catastrophe. Our task is to mobilise the international pressure needed to establish a humanitarian corridor, deliver food and medicines, and evacuate civilians.”
— Andriy Sybiga -
first by RTE News, 2d ago
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Kremlin denies responsibility; accuses Ukraine of obstructing deliveries — Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledges supply issues but shifts blame to Ukraine, claiming Kyiv is obstructing deliveries with drone attacks.
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Food deliveries to Oleshky cease — Food supplies to the occupied town are cut off as of the end of May, marking the beginning of the current humanitarian crisis.
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Kakhovka Dam breached, flooding Oleshky — A blast at the Kakhovka Power Plant leads to the breach of the Kakhovka Dam, causing near-complete flooding of the town.
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Russia occupies Oleshky at start of full-scale invasion — Oleshky, a town on the left bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson region, falls under Russian control at the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.