Residents of Oleshky, a frontline city in southern Ukraine, say they are struggling to survive as ongoing fighting and widespread landmines cut them off from basic supplies and safe escape routes.
Speaking by phone, a resident identified as Ludmilla described a deteriorating situation, with limited access to food and medicine. According to multiple accounts, the city has been largely isolated for months, raising serious humanitarian concerns.
Local officials have warned of a growing crisis. While some aid deliveries have reached the area through volunteers and humanitarian groups, they remain irregular and costly. For many of the roughly 2,000 people still in the city, basic items such as pasta and canned food have become essential staples, often sourced from abandoned homes.
Leaving Oleshky is considered extremely dangerous. The main exit route—dubbed the “Road of Death”—is believed to be heavily mined, with reports of destroyed vehicles and deadly incidents along the الطريق. Residents say attempting to flee often means risking their lives.
The city’s location further complicates evacuation efforts. Positioned on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River, Oleshky is cut off by damaged bridges and surrounded by contested مناطق. Ukrainian forces are stationed across the river near Kherson, while the city itself remains under Russian control.
Some residents have managed to escape in recent weeks, often through volunteer-led evacuations. One evacuee, Volodymyr, described a harrowing journey past burned-out vehicles and مناطق hit by shelling. He said the خوف and uncertainty ultimately forced his family to leave.
Inside the city, conditions remain dire. Buildings have been damaged or destroyed, including homes affected by flooding after the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in 2023. Residents also report ongoing drone activity and the presence of soldiers sheltering in basements.
There are conflicting claims about responsibility for the humanitarian situation. Ukrainian officials accuse Russian forces of endangering civilians and blocking safe evacuation routes, while Russian authorities blame Ukrainian strikes for worsening conditions.
Efforts are ongoing to establish humanitarian corridors, but progress remains uncertain. Aid organizations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, are in contact with both sides as they seek to assess the situation and provide assistance.
Despite the risks, not all residents are willing to leave. Some, particularly elderly السكان, remain in their homes, unwilling or unable to abandon familiar surroundings despite the dangers.
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