FAMILIES REPORTEDLY EATING DOGS AS OCCUPIED OLESHKY STARVES We first covered the humanitarian catastrophe inside Russian-occupied Oleshky approximately one week ago. Since then, the situation has continued to deteriorate every day—and the latest reports are almost unimaginable. Families trapped inside the occupied city have reportedly begun eating dogs as Oleshky descends into starvation, according to […]

FAMILIES REPORTEDLY EATING DOGS AS OCCUPIED OLESHKY STARVES

We first covered the humanitarian catastrophe inside Russian-occupied Oleshky approximately one week ago. Since then, the situation has continued to deteriorate every day—and the latest reports are almost unimaginable.

Families trapped inside the occupied city have reportedly begun eating dogs as Oleshky descends into starvation, according to Tetiana Hasanenko, head of the legitimate Ukrainian city military administration.

Regular food has not entered the city since May 26. Hasanenko said residents now have almost nothing left to eat, while efforts to deliver supplies or evacuate civilians have been blocked by mines, drone attacks and the continuing refusal of the Russian side to guarantee a humanitarian corridor.

“There’s really nothing to eat there. The situation is getting worse not just every day, but every hour. There’s no chance of survival. People have two options: either die of hunger or be hit by drone fire or artillery shelling. There’s no third option,” she said.

Approximately 2,000 people are believed to remain in Oleshky, including 47 children. Shops are largely empty, money has become nearly useless and residents survive through barter. Some have searched cellars flooded after the destruction of the Kakhovka dam for preserved food, while others are trying to determine which wild plants are safe to eat.

An attempt to deliver food in June ended with two people killed after their vehicle struck mines. Another convoy approaching Oleshky on September 1 was attacked by drones, leaving one vehicle burned and forcing the others to turn back.

Russia occupies Oleshky and is therefore responsible under international humanitarian law for ensuring that civilians receive food, medicine and essential care. Instead, thousands of Ukrainians have been left inside a mined and blockaded frontline city where escape may be as deadly as remaining.

This is what Russian occupation has brought to Oleshky: children surrounded by hunger, families forced into unthinkable choices and an entire civilian population abandoned inside a death trap.