New Delhi: As the devastating conflict between Russia and Ukraine drags on for over four years, the humanitarian crisis in Russian-occupied territories has reached unimaginable extremes. In Oleshky, a Ukrainian city located just nine kilometres from Kherson, desperate residents are reportedly surviving by boiling grass for soup and hunting pigeons as food supplies run completely dry.
According to a recent report by the Ukrainian publication Ukrainska Pravda, Oleshky has been entirely cut off from basic necessities. Official government data reveals that the last successful delivery of food and medical supplies to the city took place in May 2026. Subsequent attempts by the Ukrainian government to send humanitarian aid have failed due to the strict military blockade.
The demographic collapse of the city paints a grim picture. Before the Russian invasion in February 2022, Oleshky was home to a bustling population of 40,000. Today, only about 1,500 people remain—mostly those who were unable to flee through Kherson when the occupation began. With an estimated 95 percent of the population having migrated to safer zones, the once-thriving city has turned into a virtual ghost town.
“When we cannot find any food, we make soup out of grass and drink it. Sometimes, we have to kill pigeons and other birds to feed ourselves,” a local woman told the news portal, highlighting the sheer desperation of the stranded citizens. Residents often wait for up to five hours for food rations, only to return empty-handed.
Basic infrastructure has also collapsed, with the city enduring a total power blackout for the last two years. While some residents attempt to grow mushrooms and cabbages to sustain themselves, constant shelling and bombardment make farming incredibly dangerous.
The severe scarcity of goods has triggered hyperinflation, pushing the cost of basic groceries far beyond the reach of ordinary civilians. Local reports indicate that a single egg now costs an equivalent of Rs 150. Meanwhile, essential vegetables like potatoes and onions are being sold at a staggering Rs 1,000 per kilogram. Tomatoes are priced at Rs 200 per kilogram, while zucchini and capsicum command Rs 600 and Rs 1,000 per kilogram, respectively.
The prolonged warfare continues to inflict a heavy toll on the region. According to The Kyiv Independent, the ongoing conflict has resulted in massive military casualties and equipment losses on both sides, turning multiple Ukrainian cities into ruins. However, for the forgotten residents of Oleshky, the war is no longer just a geopolitical struggle—it is a daily, agonising battle against starvation.