In Oleshky, around 2,000 residents are living in complete humanitarian isolation. Russian forces are preventing people from leaving for Ukrainian-controlled territory, blocking the delivery of any supplies, and leaving the population without the basic necessities for survival. The town has no running water or electricity, while food supplies are nearly exhausted.
«People are being forced to survive without food, electricity or water. Most horrifyingly, the Russians have effectively deprived them of any possibility of escaping this hell. The situation Russia has created in Oleshky is reminiscent of the horrific tragedy Ukraine already endured during the Holodomor of 1932–1933», said Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration.
The only way to support residents on the temporarily occupied left bank is by using drones. Since March this year, the Ukrainian military, together with local authorities, has established a systematic operation to deliver packages containing essential supplies by drone.
Recently, one of the largest operations of this kind was carried out: around four tonnes of food were dropped by drone at 100 locations across the town. The mission involved units of the 30th Marine Corps, the Hrim Tactical Group, the 34th Separate Marine Brigade “Borysfen,” the 34th Regiment of the National Guard, a unit of the 11th National Guard Brigade “Bolharychi,” and the 79th Border Guard Detachment.
Preparing each batch of supplies required painstaking work by soldiers and volunteers. The boxes were packed with basic food items, including cereals, flour, pasta, sugar, salt, canned food, butter, and cooking oil. Separate packages were prepared with medical supplies, ranging from painkillers and dressings to water purification tablets.
The flights themselves were carried out under the cover of darkness. Heavy drones crossed the river in a convoy, while UAV operators used thermal imaging cameras to monitor the areas around the drop-off points in real time. The packages were lowered by cables at pre-arranged locations. Using the drones’ cameras, Ukrainian forces watched as civilians emerged from their shelters to collect the supplies delivered from the right bank.
However, the occupying Russian forces are trying to disrupt even these humanitarian missions. Russian troops shoot down drones carrying supplies and seize or resell the aid they drop. There have also been documented cases of local residents being persecuted for collecting the aid: civilians are detained and tortured in makeshift detention facilities.
Under international humanitarian law, the occupying power is responsible for ensuring that the civilian population has access to food and medical supplies, or for allowing international humanitarian relief operations to reach those in need. In the temporarily occupied town, however, the situation is the exact opposite:
«Russian occupying forces are obstructing the provision of aid to civilians, destroying vehicles used to deliver humanitarian supplies, and killing people who try to bring in food and medicine. They are also blocking all initiatives and agreements aimed at evacuating people from Oleshky. Now they are trying to prevent food deliveries as well», Oleksandr Prokudin stressed.
Despite all the dangers and risks, operations to support the residents of Oleshky will continue.
Information provided by the Kherson Regional Military Administration
Video footage: the 34th Separate Marine Brigade “Borysfen” and a unit of the 11th National Guard Brigade “Bolharychi”
