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Residents eating garden weeds in Russian-occupied Oleshky cut off from food and water

Two civilians killed by drone while fetching food, trapped residents report

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
Residents trapped in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky are being forced to eat garden weeds as the city remains cut off from food and water supplies and under constant shelling, the BBC reports. Two civilians were killed by a drone on 20 September while returning home with a bag of food from the neighbouring town of Radensk, according to multiple sources.

Halia, a resident of Oleshky whose name has been changed for her safety, told the BBC that "two more civilians died last night" before her phone connection cut off. Three days later she confirmed the two killed were a husband and wife she knew well. They were bringing a bag of food from Radensk, 23km away, but were unable to reach home before a curfew imposed by Russian occupation authorities and were then struck by a drone. Four separate sources have confirmed the deaths.

Occupied by Russia since 2022, Oleshky is trapped between the Dnipro River — which separates it from Ukrainian-held territory — and Russian forces. Halia described the city as "constantly shelled" and entirely without food and water, forcing residents to eat garden weeds to survive.

The BBC has collected multiple harrowing accounts from residents in this front-line city in southern Kherson region in recent days, painting a picture of severe deprivation and danger for those remaining.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The humanitarian crisis in Oleshky illustrates the extreme conditions faced by civilians in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, where basic necessities are unavailable and movement is lethal.
  • The deaths of two civilians simply trying to obtain food highlights the breakdown of safe passage and the ruthless enforcement of occupation rules.
  • This story adds to mounting evidence of war crimes and could influence international pressure on Russia regarding civilian protection.

Background

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, large parts of the southern Kherson region have been under occupation. Oleshky, a city just across the Dnipro River from the regional capital Kherson, has been held by Russian forces since early in the war. Ukrainian forces have attempted to retake areas on the eastern bank but the front line remains active, with constant shelling and drone strikes affecting both military and civilian targets.

Key Perspectives

Residents of Oleshky: They are trapped without food or water, reliant on dangerous journeys to neighbouring towns for supplies, and subject to curfews enforced by deadly force. Russian occupation authorities: They impose curfews and restrict movement, but no official response to the civilian deaths or the food shortage has been reported. Humanitarian observers: International bodies have repeatedly condemned attacks on civilians and the denial of humanitarian access in occupied territories, but verification is extremely difficult due to restricted access.

What to Watch

  • Whether any humanitarian corridor is established to allow civilians to evacuate or receive supplies.
  • Additional reports of civilian casualties or starvation in other occupied front-line towns.
  • Reaction from international organisations such as the UN or Red Cross, and potential new sanctions or war crimes investigations.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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