Ukrainians describe “hell” as they flee Russian‑occupied Oleshky
Evacuees from the front‑line city of Oleshky returned to northern Ukraine after a brief humanitarian pause.
“Horror” is how Olha describes life in Oleshky over the past few years, and her husband Viacheslav summed it up as “we came back from hell.”
The couple were among hundreds of residents evacuated from the Russian‑occupied city who crossed into northern Ukraine via Belarus on Saturday, reuniting with family members they had not seen for years.
Oleshky was seized by Russia in the first days of the full‑scale invasion in February 2022 and sits trapped between the Dnipro River and Russian forces.
Olha and Viacheslav lived in the city with their son and daughter, both in their 30s. As shelling intensified, they feared that escaping could be even more dangerous because routes were mined and subject to drone attack.
When supplies ran low, the couple attempted to find food by crossing minefields earlier this month. “People were stepping on mines, dying and being maimed, all just to survive,” Olha told the BBC.
Those too afraid to leave the city resorted to cooking garden weeds to stay alive. Olha said they realized the situation was not improving and decided they had to get out.
Evacuation became possible after a humanitarian cease‑fire took effect in the Kherson region, providing a brief period of peace that allowed Oleshky residents to leave.
Up to 6,000 people, including 200 children, are believed to still be living in Oleshky and surrounding areas, with 1,700 in the city itself.
Residents had a four‑hour window on Friday to depart. A convoy of 25 buses was arranged for up to 750 evacuees, accompanied by ambulances for those with limited mobility.
After traveling through Russian‑occupied territory to southern Russia, then flying to Belarus, evacuees arrived on buses at a military facility in Chernihiv on Saturday.
The emotional reunions highlighted the stark conditions endured by civilians trapped in the front‑line city.
