Russian blockade starves Oleshky residents as aid deliveries are repeatedly thwarted

Since the Russian invasion began, Oleshky in southern Kherson Oblast has been sealed off by occupation forces, preventing any humanitarian assistance from entering. The town's infrastructure was crippled after the Antonivka bridge was destroyed and the Kakhovka dam was blown up, eliminating electricity, gas and water services. Residents now face severe food shortages, with reports of people foraging for weeds and a three-liter jar of bread crusts becoming extremely valuable.

Multiple aid convoys have been stopped by landmines or destroyed by FPV drones, killing at least four civilians in February and two more in September. Russian forces have only provided condensed milk to individuals holding Russian passports, underscoring the discriminatory nature of the blockade. International law prohibits using starvation as a weapon, and the ongoing conditions in Oleshky appear to meet that definition.