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Frontline city cut off as mines and war choke supplies
A resident of Oleshky, a southern Ukrainian city under Russian control, described the dire conditions in a phone call from the rooftop of a fire-gutted house. "The road is mined. We're stuck here," said Ludmilla, a pseudonym used to protect her identity. "People are just trying to survive."
Months without food or medicine
Oleshky, located on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River, has been largely isolated for months, with fresh food and medical supplies scarce. Ukraine's human rights commissioner has labeled the situation a "humanitarian crisis." Recent aid deliveries, organized by volunteers, have provided temporary relief, though prices remain exorbitant. Residents report foraging in abandoned homes for pasta and canned goods, now staples for the city's remaining 2,000 inhabitants.
'Road of Death' blocks escape
Attempting to flee Oleshky is perilous. Locals call the sole evacuation route the "Road of Death" due to heavy mining. Volodymyr, a resident in his 50s, recounted his harrowing escape in an ambulance arranged by volunteers. "Everyone prayed we wouldn't hit a mine," he said. The journey was marked by burned-out vehicles, some with bodies still inside. Satellite imagery from November shows at least eight damaged cars along a 1-kilometer stretch of the road, while verified footage from late January reveals a scorched section likely caused by an explosion.
City under siege
Oleshky's isolation is compounded by geography. The Dnipro River and destroyed bridges block northern exits, while mined roads make inland travel treacherous. The city has been under Russian occupation since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, with Ukrainian forces positioned across the river near Kherson. Residents report intensified mining during winter, when snow obscured danger zones. Though the snow has melted, the mines remain.
Bodies uncollected, soldiers in hiding
Ludmilla, whose home was destroyed in the 2023 Kakhovka Dam collapse, now shelters in another fire-damaged house. She describes Russian soldiers hiding in basements to evade Ukrainian drones. "We don't see them, but they're there," she said. Residents claim uncollected bodies, including those of Russian soldiers, lie abandoned for days. Ukrainian officials accuse Russia of "deliberate terrorism" against civilians, while Russia's London embassy blames Ukrainian strikes for the humanitarian crisis.
Appeals for safe passage
Ukraine's human rights commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets, has urged Russian authorities to establish a "humanitarian corridor" for evacuations. The International Red Cross (ICRC) is engaging both sides to assess the situation. Meanwhile, some residents, particularly the elderly, refuse to leave. Hanna, another resident, described a 90-year-old woman waving off a hovering drone, resigned to her fate. "She just looked up and hobbled on," Hanna said.
Uncertain future
The BBC corroborated accounts from seven residents through phone calls, messaging apps, and a Ukrainian official in contact with locals. While some evacuations have succeeded, the threat of mines and shelling persists. Ludmilla remains in Oleshky, with no plans to leave. "There's no point," she said. "The destruction is everywhere."
