Oleshky residents evacuate to Ukrainian territory after years under Russian occupation
Source Summary
Residents evacuated from the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky have crossed into Ukrainian-held territory following a rare local truce. The evacuees reported enduring years of isolation, food shortages, and regular shelling, with some describing extreme deprivation including eating grass and dogs to survive. Oleshky has remained under Russian control since the early stages of the 2022 invasion, isolated by the Dnipro River and surrounded by Russian forces.
Why it matters
The evacuation demonstrates the humanitarian toll of prolonged occupation and provides rare testimony to conditions in Russian-held territory during the ongoing conflict.
