Russians seize food dropped by Ukrainian drones to residents of occupied Oleshky – military administration head

30.09.2026, 11:42 rubryka.com

The day before, the Armed Forces of Ukraine delivered about 4 tons of food to the occupied town of Oleshky using drones. According to Hasanenko, Ukrainian troops previously dropped food for residents, but the latest delivery became the largest to date.

She confirmed that Russian soldiers take food packages away from locals.

Regarding Russians taking food from people—that is true.

Furthermore, they immediately ask questions if the food is not Russian-made: 'Where did you get this?' And they say: 'If Ukraine's armed forces drop food for you, it means you cooperate with them'. At the same time, the occupiers consider this Russian territory and the residents Russian citizens who violate Russian law by cooperating with the Armed Forces of Ukraine," the head of the military administration said.

According to her, people also continue to disappear in the community, kidnapped by Russian troops. She noted that the whereabouts of an entire family taken by the occupiers remains unknown.

"People are taken away; a family disappeared without a trace in our community. We don't know where they are; they took them to a basement, and that's it. Whether they are alive or not is unknown," Hasanenko said.

Background

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine constantly draws international attention to the severe deterioration of the humanitarian situation in certain areas of the temporarily occupied Kherson region due to crimes by Russian occupiers, who grossly violate international humanitarian law.

The situation in Oleshky, Hola Prystan, Stara Zburivka, and Nova Zburivka in the Kherson region is of particular concern, as the basic conditions needed to meet residents' needs, including children's, are entirely absent. Russian occupiers artificially block people from leaving and create obstacles to the supply of basic consumer goods, food products, and medicines.

The population has dropped from 40,000 to around 6,000 people, and in the city of Oleshky specifically, from 24,000 to roughly 2,000.

In May, the Ukrainian side held negotiations regarding the urgent humanitarian evacuation of civilians from temporarily occupied settlements in the Kherson region, where active fighting created a critical situation. This specifically concerns Oleshky, Hola Prystan, Stara Zburivka, and Nova Zburivka, where people remain without food, drinking water, and medicine.

Earlier, Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha declared a critical humanitarian situation in temporarily occupied Oleshky, Kherson region. According to him, civilians, including children, remain without sufficient food, medicine, clean water, electricity, and medical care. He called on the UN, the ICRC, and other international organizations to ensure humanitarian access and safe evacuation of people.

Additionally, the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations called on Pope Leo XIV and international organizations to facilitate humanitarian assistance and the evacuation of residents.

Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets stated that Russia has consistently refused to confirm its readiness to organize a humanitarian mission to evacuate civilians from Oleshky.