Life in Oleshky: Escaping a War Zone
Hundreds of Ukrainians have been evacuated from the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, describing their experiences as 'horror' and 'hell'. They arrived in northern Ukraine on Saturday after a journey through occupied territories and Belarus. Many are reuniting with family they haven't seen in years.
Oleshky has been occupied by Russian forces since the invasion began in February 2022. Residents faced constant shelling and feared that escape routes were dangerous, with mines and drone attacks. Some people risked stepping on mines just to find food as supplies dwindled. A humanitarian ceasefire in the Kherson region finally allowed for the evacuation.
Up to 6,000 people were thought to be in the Oleshky area, and 1,700 were in the city itself. Evacuees arrived in Chernihiv, with some elderly residents needing to be carried on stretchers. Now, the challenge is to rebuild their lives and find new places to live and work.