Ukraine Accuses Russia of Starving 2,000 Civilians in Oleshky

Approximately 2,000 civilians in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky are facing a humanitarian catastrophe marked by severe starvation and a total lack of food supplies. Andrii Sybiha, the Foreign Minister of Ukraine, informed the UN General Assembly that Russia is deliberately starving the population and blocking evacuations to use civilians as human shields against potential Ukrainian counterattacks.

Residents report eating edible weeds and foraged plants to survive. Reports indicate Russian soldiers have stolen remaining food stores and murdered civilians. Supplies have largely halted since May due to drone activity, attacks on food convoys, and expanded minefields. Tetiana Hasanenko, head of the Oleshky military administration, noted that the density of these minefields has become very high.

Both nations blame each other for a September 1 attack on a food convoy. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the critical situation in the city but claimed Ukrainian forces are the ones blocking humanitarian aid.