Winter threatens hunger crisis in Russian-occupied Ukrainian city

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 17 Oct, 05:32 · Archive

Residents of the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky in Ukraine face starvation and disease as winter approaches with no humanitarian relief agreed.

Food and medical supplies have been scarce for months in Oleshky, a front-line city in Ukraine's Kherson region that Russian forces captured on the first day of their full-scale invasion in 2022. The city sits on the Dnipro River that separates Ukrainian and Russian forces. Once home to about 24,000 people, its population has dwindled to fewer than 2,000.

Conditions are dire. There is no electricity, heat or running water. Roads leading from the town are mined and dotted with burned-out cars. Drones hover overhead. The city was heavily damaged by shelling and burning during the initial capture. In June 2023, floodwaters inundated it after the Kakhovka Dam collapsed from an explosion that an Associated Press investigation found was likely caused by Russian military forces, killing hundreds of residents.

As winter approaches, those still in the city face death from hunger or disease. One 40-year-old former hairdresser decided to escape via what locals have dubbed 'the road of death', walking 20 kilometres along the partially mined route and fearing that 'every step could have been my last', she said. No agreement is in sight for even a humanitarian evacuation of the remaining residents.

How it is being reported

• A winter of hunger looms for residents trapped in Russian-occupied city in UkraineFood and medical supplies have been scarce for months in Oleshky, which sits on the Dnipro River that separates Ukrainian forces from the city’s Russian occupiers.Clickorlando · 17 Oct, 05:01
• A winter of hunger looms for residents trapped in Russian-occupied city in UkraineFood and medical supplies have been scarce for months in Oleshky, which sits on the Dnipro River that separates Ukrainian forces from the city’s Russian occupiers.News4Jax · 17 Oct, 05:01

In this story: Oleshky · Ukraine · Russia · Kherson · Dnipro River · Kakhovka Dam

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem