Around 2,000 people, including nearly 50 children, remain trapped by Russian forces in occupied Oleshky in the Kherson region and are being forced to survive without food, electricity or water.
Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, reported this on Facebook.
“In occupied Oleshky, the Russians are holding around 2,000 of our people hostage, including nearly 50 children. They are being forced to survive without food, electricity or water,” Prokudin said.
He stressed that Russian forces have effectively deprived residents of the possibility of leaving the city.
“Instead of loud statements, we chose the path of concrete action. Since March, together with a unit of the 11th Brigade of the National Guard and defenders of the 34th Separate Marine Brigade Borysfen, we have been systematically delivering food across the Dnieper using drones,” Prokudin added.
According to him, one of the largest such operations was recently carried out.
“In cooperation with the 30th Marine Corps, the Hrim Tactical Group, the 34th Marine Brigade Borysfen, the Bolharychi unit of the 11th National Guard Brigade, the 34th National Guard Regiment and the 79th Border Guard Detachment, we delivered around 4,000 tonnes of food to 100 designated locations across the city,” Prokudin said.
According to him, Russian forces are also attempting to disrupt these aid deliveries.
“Russian troops shoot down drones carrying supplies and cynically seize or resell food intended for children and elderly people,” Prokudin said.
Residents of Oleshky are reportedly detained for receiving humanitarian packages, taken to makeshift detention facilities, severely beaten and subjected to violence.
Prokudin stressed that deliberately blocking humanitarian assistance and creating conditions of starvation among civilians constitute war crimes with no statute of limitations. He said the Ukrainian side would continue making every effort to assist residents of Oleshky.
