Dmytro Lubinets appeals for humanitarian corridor from occupied Oleshky
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 6
Dmytro Lubinets appeals for humanitarian corridor from occupied Oleshky
8 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 6
About 2,000 people remain in the southern city, where mined routes dubbed the Road of Death and wrecked Dnipro crossings have cut off regular food and medicine supplies.
Residents described shelling, drones and burnt-out vehicles on evacuation roads, while some recent volunteer-led deliveries and ambulance evacuations still got through despite extreme danger.
The ICRC said it was seeking information from both sides; Kyiv accuses Russia of abandoning civilians, while Moscow blames Ukrainian strikes for Oleshky's worsening humanitarian crisis.
Trapped between a mined 'Road of Death' and the river, what hope remains for the last civilians of Oleshky?
With civilians reportedly used for drone practice, has the concept of a 'war crime' lost all meaning in Oleshky?
Siege and Suffering in Oleshky: The Ongoing Impact of Russian Occupation and the Kakhovka Dam Disaster
Overview
The 2023 destruction of the Kakhovka Dam triggered a severe humanitarian crisis in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky, cutting off the main water source and devastating local agriculture. Russian occupation policies have enforced a strict blockade, blocking aid and evacuations, while deliberately denying basic services like water, food, and heating. This has caused widespread hunger, preventable deaths, and forced desperate evacuations through dangerous, mined areas. Civilians and aid convoys face attacks, and communication blackouts isolate residents further. International response has largely failed, with key organizations inactive and no safe humanitarian corridors established. Meanwhile, forced deportations and legal measures aim to erase Ukrainian presence, prompting ICC investigations and arrest warrants, yet effective relief and justice remain elusive.