Food and medicine shortage worsens in Russian-occupied Ukraine Oleshki, residents struggle to survive, EU approval situation is appalling

The shortage of food and medical supplies in Oleshky, a town in southern Ukraine occupied by Russia, has worsened. About 2,000 residents are stranded. The residents once relied on catching pigeons to satisfy their hunger, but now even pigeons are hard to find. EU officials described the situation as "horrifying" on the 2nd and demanded that Russia fulfill its obligations as an occupying power and ensure that civilians have access to food and medicine.

Agence France-Presse and Reuters reported on the 2nd that Olga, who once lived there and is still in contact with residents in the city, pointed out that she was in contact with two families in the city. When the situation first worsened, they could catch pigeons to eat, but now it is difficult to find pigeons and there is no flour. The residents can only survive on what is left in their own vegetable gardens. Elizaveta, who manages a local community, said some people "really dreamed of a piece of candy or a piece of meat."

Oleshki is located on the south bank of the Dnieper River in Kherson Oblast. It was occupied by the Russian army in 2022. It had a population of about 24,000 before the war, but now only about 2,000 people remain. Although there have been few changes to the frontline in the region since 2023, advances in drone technology have formed a "kill zone" with a depth of up to 20 kilometers on both sides of the frontline, and there are drones in the air at any time ready to strike ground targets.

Olena Kryzhanivska, a Ukrainian drone expert, recently wrote in a newsletter that Oleshki is within the combat range of Russian and Ukrainian drones. "The sky above this city has become a battlefield where drones continue to fight and hunt. Almost any moving target on the ground will become a target."

Although the Uzbek government has used drones to drop food in about 100 places, it is far from enough to feed all the trapped residents. Elizaveta said some people who obtained supplies even had to hide to avoid putting their own safety at risk. Another former resident, Sergiy, said that some people would form "expedition teams" in the city and risk their lives to find locations where food could be dropped by air.

The Uzbek government's revelation of the humanitarian crisis in Oreshki has attracted international attention. Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said, "The message sent by the international community to Russia is very clear: Russia must provide international organizations with full, safe and unhindered access to Oreshki, and ensure that local civilians have immediate access to food, medicine, and a safe way to evacuate."

Hadja Lahbib, the European Union's executive committee on humanitarian aid, said on the 2nd that "the situation currently taking place in Oreshki, Ukraine is horrifying" and "unacceptable." Russia, as the occupying power, has clear obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk described the situation on the ground as "desperate" and called on Russia to allow civilians to evacuate.

Faced with external accusations, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Shakarova countered the attack by the Ukrainian army and cut off Russian aid channels into the city.