'People survive on one meal a day': Oleshky official warns against giving Russia more territory

Oleshky’s remaining residents are living through a humanitarian crisis under Russian occupation. The city is described as practically destroyed, with almost every building damaged. Food and drinking water are scarce, while electricity, gas, and medical care are extremely limited. The situation matters because civilians are trapped without reliable ways to obtain necessities or escape.

A city under military occupation is controlled by a foreign armed force rather than its recognized government. That control affects daily life, movement, security, and access to public services. Civilians remain in the city, but their choices are shaped by the occupying power and the dangers created by the conflict. This matters because occupation can leave residents without effective protection or normal civic administration.

Around 2,000 people are believed to remain in Oleshky, although officials say the true number is difficult to establish. Among them are 35 children who are described as trapped and unable to leave. These figures show both the scale of the civilian population and the uncertainty caused by occupation and the lack of independent access.

The journey is called the “road of death” because escaping Oleshky can expose civilians to several lethal dangers at once. Residents walk about 25 kilometres toward Radianske across heavily mined territory. They are also vulnerable to drone attacks, often while already weakened by hunger and poor living conditions. The route offers no dependable safety.

Giving Russia more Ukrainian territory could place additional civilians under the kind of control described in Oleshky. Hasanenko says occupation has brought destruction, hunger, restricted services, dangerous movement, and punishment for suspected cooperation with Ukraine. Her warning is that territorial concessions would not necessarily protect residents; they could instead expand the population living under those conditions.

When essential supplies and safe travel disappear, residents are forced into survival strategies rather than normal choices. They ration food, sometimes eating one meal daily, and stretch whatever remains. People also depend on dangerous deliveries or help from relatives who can still travel. These options are temporary and risky, not reliable replacements for functioning services.

Control of territory is central because it determines which authority governs people, controls movement, and can organize protection and essential services. State sovereignty means a country’s recognized authority governs its land rather than a foreign military force. The laws of war also focus on protecting civilians and limiting how armed power is used in occupied areas. Without effective protection, civilians can become trapped between military control and humanitarian need.