Feb. 24, 2022 – Oct. 29, 2026

Oleshky: A Chronicle of Early Testimony and an Information Vacuum (2022–2026)

Oleshky is a city on the left bank of the Dnipro River, across from Kherson. Russia occupied it at the start of its full-scale invasion. S1 Today the city faces a humanitarian catastrophe: hunger, a lack of medicine, and an evacuation that is nearly impossible. Reports of such problems came out of the city from the first weeks of the occupation. We compared the dates of those reports with the dates when media and institutions responded.

Updated Oct. 30, 2026. Times are in UTC. Every number has an entry in the fact register in the appendix.

The text includes quotations about violence against civilians, including children. It contains no addresses or personal data. Hide quotations, keep sources

Schematic of the lower Dnipro River: Oleshky on the left bank across from Kherson; Nova Kakhovka and the Kakhovka dam upstream; the direction to Crimea to the southeast. — Oleshky is a city in Kherson district. Before the war it had about 24,000 residents (a 2022 estimate). The Dnipro separates it from Kherson; the Antonivskyi Bridge was destroyed in November 2022. S1 Schematic: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Natural Earth, Wikidata coordinates (CC0).

Key points

Oleshky is in a humanitarian catastrophe. According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), there have been no regular food deliveries to the city since May 26, 2026. Evacuation was nearly impossible: on Jan. 17 an evacuation vehicle hit a mine, and on Sept. 1 drones struck a humanitarian convoy. A ceasefire began on Oct. 27 and an evacuation on Oct. 30. F6, S5, S20, S16, S18
These problems were reported from the city from the first weeks of the occupation: electricity and phone service on May 29, 2022; passports on June 28; children in the boarding school on Oct. 21; medicine on Dec. 14. Places of detention were reported on Jan. 24, 2023; floodwater in the city on June 6, 2023; food shortages on Feb. 2, 2025, and Jan. 31, 2026. FP1, SP1, SP2, CH5
In 2024–2025 the city nearly vanished from the news. Until 2026, food, medicine and communications made up 1–6% of coverage in any half-year. TM1 Officials wrote 50 posts about the city in two years, and Russian and occupation channels got 38% of the views in 2025. AM-F1, VO1 An eyewitness wrote about hunger on Feb. 2, 2025 («Нет еды, воды , а кругом смерть» [“No food, no water, and death all around”], 186 views), and the channel “Kherson: Non Fake” on Jan. 31, 2026 («начинается голод» [“hunger is beginning”], 120,391 views). SP1, CH5
The response came late. National media wrote about electricity and phone service 13 months later, about passports 9 months later, and about places of detention 2.1 years later. On hunger in 2026, national web outlets wrote 25 days later, DW 105 days later, the UN mission 145 days later and HRW 159 days later. CS3, SP2, CH5
Until 2026, statements dominated. The actions were the volunteers’ boats in 2023 and, in 2026, food delivered by drone, the evacuation of 32 people in May and the ceasefire from Oct. 27. AC1

What was reported from Oleshky before 2026

Reports from the city covered electricity, passports, children, medicine, torture, the flood and hunger. The table shows how long it took for each problem to get a first response.

Time from the first report from the city to the first response

Time from the first report from the city to the first response
Problem	First report	National	Int’l	Institutions
No electricity or phone service	May 29, 2022	13 months	12 months	—
A passport required for work, treatment, aid	Jun 28, 2022	9 months	12 months	12 months
Children taken from the boarding school	Oct 21, 2022	1.9 days	2 days	12 months
Shortage of medicine and insulin	Dec 14, 2022	<1 h	3.4 years	3.5 years
Places of detention and torture	Jan 24, 2023	2.1 years	—	3.6 years
The dam destroyed	Jun 6, 2023	<1 h	7 h	2.5 days
Hunger and blockade	Feb 2, 2025	12 months	16 months	17 months

No electricity or phone service

First May 29, 2022National 13 monthsInt’l 12 monthsInstitutions —

A passport required for work, treatment, aid

First Jun 28, 2022National 9 monthsInt’l 12 monthsInstitutions 12 months

Children taken from the boarding school

First Oct 21, 2022National 1.9 daysInt’l 2 daysInstitutions 12 months

Shortage of medicine and insulin

First Dec 14, 2022National <1 hInt’l 3.4 yearsInstitutions 3.5 years

Places of detention and torture

First Jan 24, 2023National 2.1 yearsInt’l —Institutions 3.6 years

The dam destroyed

First Jun 6, 2023National <1 hInt’l 7 hInstitutions 2.5 days

Hunger and blockade

First Feb 2, 2025National 12 monthsInt’l 16 monthsInstitutions 17 months

For each problem: the date of the first post from the city and the time until the first response from national media, international media and institutions. “—” means no response was found. Source: Telegram channels and websites that wrote about Oleshky; media reports and institutional documents.

Download chart data (CSV)

How much was written about the city, and about what

Coverage of Oleshky comes in spikes: after the liberation of Kherson, after the destruction of the dam, after the AP investigation in December 2023, and from September 2026. Between the spikes it is nearly silent. In October 2026, 8,077 channels wrote about the city; not long before, about a hundred did. AD1, AD2

Items about Oleshky by week, 2022–2026

Telegram postspeak 409 per week

Ukrainian websitespeak 327 per week

Russian websites, including occupation-controlled onespeak 935 per week

English-language news (GDELT)peak 301 per week

Nov. 11, 2022 — Kherson liberated S1
June 6, 2023 — Kakhovka dam destroyed S2
Dec. 28, 2023 — AP investigation of the death toll IN4
Sept. 27, 2026 — September–October 2026

Each stripe is one week; the darker it is, the more items. Each row has its own scale, so compare the shape, not the color. The lightest shade is a week with no items; a hatch means no data. February 2025 – January 2026 is highlighted. Telegram covers only channels that wrote about the city in all five years. Source: Telegram channels and websites that wrote about Oleshky; GDELT.

Download chart data (CSV)

What the items about Oleshky covered, by half-year

Shelling and deathsFood, medicine, communicationsDam breach and floodingDiplomacy and reactionOther topics

2022 · H1

92%

2022 · H2

15%81%

2023 · H1

13%58%29%

2023 · H2

23%72%

2024 · H1

25%66%

2024 · H2

35%62%

2025 · H1

51%38%

2025 · H2

53%41%

2026 · H1

24%29%44%

2026 · H2

17%63%16%

Sample: 140 items per half-year, each assigned a main topic. Four topics are colored; the other seven are gray. Source: Telegram channels and websites that wrote about Oleshky.

Download chart data (CSV)

Until 2026, food, medicine and communications made up 1–6% of items in any half-year; most were daily summaries of shelling and deaths. In the first half of 2026, 29% of items were about survival; in the second half, 63% were about diplomacy and reactions. TM1 Only 23 of 1,400 items were about detention and torture.

Little survives about the lack of food and medicine. On Jan. 18, 2024, a volunteer wrote: «Після затоплення і обстрілів в місті не залишилось нічого» [“After the flood and the shelling, nothing is left in the city”]. On Feb. 2, 2025, an eyewitness wrote: «Нет еды, воды , а кругом смерть» [“No food, no water, and death all around”]; the post was viewed 186 times. The next large post on the subject came on Jan. 31, 2026: the channel “Kherson: Non Fake” wrote «Некоторые люди уже испытывают серьезный дефицит с продуктами, начинается голод» [“Some people are already facing a serious shortage of food, hunger is beginning”] (120,391 views). SP1, CH5

2025–2026: hunger, blockade and an evacuation that was nearly impossible

The first signal of hunger came early; the media reached it slowly. On Jan. 31, 2026, the channel “Kherson: Non Fake” wrote: «Некоторые люди уже испытывают серьезный дефицит с продуктами, начинается голод» [“Some people are already facing a serious shortage of food, hunger is beginning”] (120,391 views). Six days later a national Telegram channel, newspn, repeated it (28,267 views). National web outlets picked up the topic 25 days later, DW 105 days later, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) 145 days later and HRW 159 days later. CH5 As early as Feb. 2, 2025, an eyewitness wrote: «Нет еды, воды , а кругом смерть» [“No food, no water, and death all around”]; the post was viewed 186 times. SP1

According to HRMMU, the last regular food delivery to the city was recorded on May 26, 2026. The city administration said so on June 12; HRMMU confirmed it on June 25 and gave casualty figures: at least 29 people killed and 54 injured in Oleshky and Hola Prystan since the start of the year. F6

Attempts are being made to deliver food by drone. On May 21, 2026, a spokesman for the 34th Brigade said Russian troops were shooting the drones down. National media wrote about the deliveries only from Sept. 23, DW from Sept. 27. SP3 On Sept. 25, BBC Ukrainian published a report about soup made from weeds. S6

Leaving was just as hard. On Jan. 17, 2026, a regional channel reported that an evacuation had failed: a vehicle hit a mine, and the driver died, according to local channels. Obozrevatel wrote about it three days later, and RIA Novosti relayed the Russian side’s statement about three injured. Our material contains no international reports or institutional documents on this; where the mine came from is not known. S5 On Sept. 1, drones struck a humanitarian convoy of four vehicles. Ukrainian channels blamed Russian drones; RT blamed Ukrainian ones. There is no independent confirmation. S20 In May, during a three-day lull, 32 people left (according to HRMMU). AC1

Food shortage in the city, 2025–2026

On Jan. 18, 2024, a volunteer wrote that «не залишилось нічого» [“nothing is left”] in the city. On Jan. 31, 2026, the channel “Kherson: Non Fake” wrote: «начинается голод» [“hunger is beginning”]. A national Telegram channel repeated this six days later, DW 105 days later, and HRMMU 145 days later.

First postFeb 2, 2025potipomu

National media12 monthsTelegram newspn (28,000 views); web:…

International media16 monthsDeutsche Welle (Ukrainian)

Institutions17 months

Date	Who	What was said
July 22, 2022	Human Rights Watch	HRW, in a report on torture and disappearances in the occupied south, describes the detention of “Stepan” at home in Oleshky; the family had no further news of him. IN1
June 14, 2023	Human Rights Watch	In “Loss after loss after loss,” HRW said that in Oleshky and other occupied areas the authorities are not fulfilling their duty to help people; 90 percent of the city was flooded. IN2
Oct. 4, 2023	OHCHR, 36th report	OHCHR (36th report) identified by name 15 civilians who died in the flood, including in Oleshky; recorded that volunteers were blocked from reaching about 600 people in central Oleshky and the arrest of three volunteers on June 6 and one more on June 9; reported the transfer of 28 children from an Oleshky institution to Crimea (par. 92). IN3
Dec. 28, 2023	Associated Press	AP found that the occupation authorities deliberately understated the number of flood deaths: in Oleshky at least hundreds, 200–300 by medics’ estimates, against 59 according to Russia. IN4
March 26, 2024	OHCHR, 38th report	OHCHR received credible allegations of extrajudicial executions of 10 civilians, almost all in Kherson Oblast, “such as Oleshky,” and noted that these cases require further verification. IN5

Date	Who	What
April 15, 2026	Kyiv Independent	Kyiv Independent (April 15): about 2,000 civilians trapped in Oleshky — the earliest open-access article among the listed outlets for 2026.
April 27, 2026	Novaya Gazeta Europe	Novaya Gazeta Europe (April 27): a report on ~2,000 residents; Saldo calls the crisis «брехливою київською пропагандою» [“false Kyiv propaganda”].
June 25, 2026	UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU)	UN human rights mission (June 25): up to 6,000 civilians, at least 29 killed and 54 injured in Oleshky and Hola Prystan in 2026; it called for a local ceasefire.
Sept. 16, 2026	Ombudsman Lubinets (via Kyiv Independent)	Lubinets (Sept. 16): more than 6,000 people, ~200 children, 358 in need of immediate evacuation; the ICRC is ready, Russia has not confirmed.
Sept. 22, 2026	Reuters (via Internazionale)	Reuters (Sept. 22): Ukraine urges the UN to act; the Kremlin acknowledges a critical shortage but blames Kyiv.
Sept. 23, 2026	Sybiha at the UN (via UNN)	Sybiha at the UN (Sept. 23) demanded that the world pressure Russia over humanitarian corridors; no separate UN Security Council meeting on Oleshky was found.
Sept. 25, 2026	ABC News	ABC News (Sept. 25): «Блокада повна» [“The blockade is complete”] — residents are fleeing, hunger is deepening.
Sept. 25, 2026	Council of Europe Commissioner O’Flaherty (via European Pravda)	Council of Europe Commissioner O’Flaherty (Sept. 25) called for an immediate local ceasefire and access for humanitarian workers.
Oct. 1, 2026	EU at the OSCE Permanent Council	The EU at the OSCE Permanent Council (Oct. 1) called on Russia to ensure humanitarian access to Oleshky.
Oct. 3, 2026	RFE/RL	RFE/RL (Oct. 3): «Помремо цієї осені» [“We will die this fall”] — a report on a total blockade; mentions Ukrainian estimates of at least 500 killed in the 2023 flood.
Oct. 5, 2026	Al Jazeera	Al Jazeera (Oct. 5): hunger, drones and mines in Oleshky.
Oct. 8, 2026	Reuters (via The Star)	Reuters (Oct. 8): residents risk the “road of death” to get food.
Oct. 13, 2026	Euronews	Euronews (Oct. 13): interview with Hasanenko — ~2,000 people, 35 children, one meal a day.
Oct. 16, 2026	Pope Leo XIV and Putin (via Euronews)	Pope Leo XIV phoned Putin (Oct. 16) to ask for a truce in Oleshky; the Kremlin put the responsibility on Kyiv but agreed to cooperate.
Oct. 20, 2026	Picierno, Vice-President of the European Parliament (via Meduza)	European Parliament Vice-President Picierno announced a hunger strike (Oct. 20); no separate European Parliament resolution on Oleshky was found.
Oct. 23, 2026	White House (via Al Jazeera)	White House: Melania Trump secured a local ceasefire in Oleshky (Oct. 23); Russia announced a start on Oct. 27.
Oct. 27, 2026	Ceasefire (via LIGA.net)	The ceasefire began on Oct. 27 at 3 a.m. Kyiv time and runs until 10:59 p.m. on Nov. 1; the zone was expanded beyond Oleshky; no violations were recorded.

Story	National media	International media	Institutions
Detention and torture
March 21, 2022: soldiers took away a local resident	same day	—	—
March 23, 2022: director of a Kherson theater detained	same day	within a week	—
April 5–6, 2022: mayor left over a threat	same day	—	—
May 11, 2022: occupation forces posted a video of an interrogation with torture	same day	—	later
Sept. 24, 2022: three men abducted	same day	—	—
Testimony about places of detention and torture, 2023–2026	later	—	later
Passportization
June 27, 2022: Russian passport issuing office opened	same day	within a week	—
Work, medical care and aid tied to a passport, 2022–2026	later	later	later
Children and the boarding school
Oct. 21–23, 2022: children taken from a boarding school to Crimea	within a week	within a week	later
The 2023 flood
June 6, 2023: Oleshky under water	same day	same day	within a week
June 6–8, 2023: witnesses say evacuation was blocked	same day	same day	within a week
June 7–8, 2023: the first deaths	same day	same day	within a week
June 7–8, 2023: satellite images of the flooding	same day	same day	within a month
Humanitarian crisis
Shortage of medicine and insulin, 2022–2026	same day	later	later
Mayor and police speak of looting, 2022–2023	same day	—	—
Electricity and communications cut off, 2022–2026	later	later	—
Food shortage in the city, 2025–2026	later	later	later
Jan. 17, 2026: evacuation vehicle hit a mine	within a week	—	—
Strikes on convoys and food delivered by drone, 2025–2026	later	later	later

How many children	Who gave the figure	When
16 taken away	the mayor of Oleshky, on his Telegram channel	Oct. 21, 2022
12 in Crimea; 82 in the institution, 40 of them palliative-care patients	Office of the President (Andriy Yermak’s Telegram)	Oct. 23, 2022
52 pupils in Crimea	Maria Lvova-Belova, according to The Independent	Nov. 12, 2022
28 children transferred to Crimea	OHCHR, 36th report, para. 92	Oct. 4, 2023
46 of 84 located	Emile Foundation, as relayed by bigmir.net	June 23, 2026

Who	Flood deaths	When
Mayor of Oleshky	3; the next day, 9	June 7–8, 2023
Volunteer coordinator	“hundreds”	June 8, 2023
Ukraine’s Interior Ministry (according to OHCHR)	34 in the whole flood zone	by Oct. 4, 2023
Occupation authorities (according to OHCHR)	55 on their side	by Oct. 4, 2023
Occupation authorities (according to AP)	59 on their side	by Dec. 28, 2023
AP, its own investigation	“at least hundreds” in Oleshky	Dec. 28, 2023

Time (UTC)	Who	Quotation	Link
2022-03-21 09:27:37	Suspilne Kherson (Telegram, from the Oleshky mayor's video address)	«російські військові напідпитку серед білого дня забрали місцевого хлопця»“Russian soldiers, drunk, in broad daylight took away a local young man”	Telegram: Suspilne Kherson
2022-03-21 10:39:00	TSN.ua (web)	«військові РФ напідпитку забрали хлопця»“Russian troops, drunk, took away a young man”	TSN

Time (UTC)	Who	Quotation	Link
2022-03-23 08:07:01	Suspilne Kherson (Telegram, from the Oleshky mayor's video address)	«заарештували директора Херсонського обласного музично-драматичного театру»“they arrested the director of the Kherson Regional Music and Drama Theater”	Telegram: Suspilne Kherson
2022-03-23 08:39:00	Ukrinform (web)	«Про це у відеозверненні у Фейсбуці повідомив Олешківський міський голова»“This was reported in a video address on Facebook by the Oleshky mayor”	Ukrinform
2022-03-29 07:37:00	Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (Ukrainian service)	«23 березня російські військові затримали його, про що у відеозверненні сказав Олешківський міський голова»“On March 23 Russian troops detained him, as the Oleshky mayor said in a video address”	Radio Svoboda (RFE/RL)

Time (UTC)	Who	Quotation	Link
2022-04-06 09:00:10	Kavun.City (Telegram, quoting the Oleshky mayor's Facebook post)	«мертвий мер чи мер у підвалі нікому користі не принесе»“a dead mayor or a mayor in a basement will be of no use to anyone”	Telegram: Kavun.City
2022-04-06 10:01:00	TSN.ua (web)	«мертвий мер чи мер у підвалі нікому користі не принесе»“a dead mayor or a mayor in a basement will be of no use to anyone”	TSN

Time (UTC)	Who	Quotation	Link
2022-05-11 06:03:00	Ukrinform (web), quoting a regional council deputy	«Декілька днів тому з'явилось відео, як "браві" росгвардійці арештовують місцевого в Олешках»“A few days ago a video appeared of "brave" Rosgvardia troops arresting a local man in Oleshky”	Ukrinform
2022-05-11 10:53:11	Ombudsperson L. Denisova (Telegram)	«Окупанти виклали у вільний доступ відео допиту викраденого ними мешканця Олешків на Херсонщині»“The occupiers made publicly available a video of the interrogation of an Oleshky resident of Kherson region abducted by them”	Telegram: Ombudsperson L. Denisova
2022-07-22 04:01:00	Human Rights Watch (a different case: detention on April 7, 2022)	«came to the home of Stepan, 49, a driving instructor, in the town of Oleshky in Kherson region»“came to the home of Stepan, 49, a driving instructor, in the town of Oleshky in Kherson region”	Human Rights Watch

Time (UTC)	Who	Quotation	Link
2022-09-24 14:30:48	Kavun.City (Telegram, from a Kherson region police report)	«В Олешках та Новій Каховці викрали трьох чоловіків»“In Oleshky and Nova Kakhovka three men were abducted”	Telegram: Kavun.City
2022-09-24 17:35:00	LB.ua (web)	«В Олешках та Новій Каховці викрали трьох чоловіків»“In Oleshky and Nova Kakhovka three men were abducted”	LB.ua

June 27, 2022: Russian passport issuing office opened
Time (UTC)	Who	Quotation	Link
2022-06-27 12:00:38	NewDay (Telegram, from the mayor's account to Suspilne)	«Окупанти відкрили пункт видачі російських паспортів в Олешках»“The occupiers opened a point for issuing Russian passports in Oleshky”	Telegram: NewDay
2022-06-27 12:00:38	Suspilne (source, visible only through a NewDay repost)	«Про це Суспільному розповів міський голова Олешків Євген Рищук»“The mayor of Oleshky, Yevhen Ryshchuk, told this to Suspilne”	Telegram: Suspilne
2022-07-01 12:11:00	Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (Ukrainian service), words of an official	«Вони налагоджують цю роботу в Олешках і багато агітують місцевих отримати цей документ»“They are setting up this work in Oleshky and campaigning a lot for locals to get this document”	Radio Svoboda (RFE/RL)

Work, medical care and aid tied to a passport, 2022–2026
Time (UTC)	Who	Quotation	Link
2022-06-28 13:10:00	Radio Svoboda (Ukrainian), words of the Oleshky mayor	«Відповідно, вони мають отримати російський паспорт.»“Accordingly, they have to get a Russian passport.”	Radio Svoboda (RFE/RL)
2023-01-26 16:03:48	rayon_kherson (Telegram, from the mayor's message)	«лікарів, хто відмовиться від російського паспорту , звільняють»“doctors who refuse a Russian passport are being dismissed”	Telegram: rayon_kherson
2023-03-30 12:50:00	Radio Svoboda (Ukrainian), words of the Oleshky mayor, March 30, 2023	«Ті люди, які звертаються у лікарню і в них немає паспортів РФ, їм не надають медичної допомоги»“Those people who come to the hospital and do not have Russian passports are not given medical care”	Radio Svoboda (RFE/RL)
2023-06-09 11:59:00	AP (web, in the collected materials)	«Some say the soldiers will only help people with Russian passports.»“Some say the soldiers will only help people with Russian passports.”	Associated Press
2023-06-15 12:06:00	Amnesty International (web, in the collected materials)	«taking evacuees without Russian passports through 'filtration'»“taking evacuees without Russian passports through 'filtration'”	Amnesty International
2024-05-02 13:25:55	The Independent (web)	«forced into adopting Russian passports in order to secure treatment or care»“forced into adopting Russian passports in order to secure treatment or care”	The Independent

Oct. 21–23, 2022: children taken from a boarding school to Crimea
Time (UTC)	Who	Quotation	Link
2022-03-17 10:15:39	nikilaev_kyrilka (Telegram, repost of Suspilne, March 17, 2022; aid to the boarding school)	«Окупанти на блокпосту забрали частину того, що везли дітям»“The occupiers at a checkpoint took part of what was being brought for the children”	Telegram: nikilaev_kyrilka
2022-10-21 16:19:24	Oleshky mayor Ye. Ryshchuk (Telegram, official)	«Сьогодні окупанти вивезли із Олешківський дитячого будинку -інтернату 16 дітей.»“Today the occupiers took 16 children out of the Oleshky children's boarding home.”	Telegram: Oleshky mayor Ye. Ryshchuk
2022-10-23 14:32:22	Ye. Yermak, head of the Office of the President (Telegram)	«примусово вивозять дітей з інвалідністю, які проживають в Олешківському дитячому будинку-інтернаті»“they are forcibly removing children with disabilities who live in the Oleshky children's boarding home”	Telegram: Ye. Yermak
2022-10-23 16:19:00	Deutsche Welle (Ukrainian), live blog of Oct. 23, 2022	«Російські окупанти вивозять дітей з інвалідністю, які проживають в дитячому будинку-інтернаті в місті Олешки Херсонської області»“Russian occupiers are removing children with disabilities who live in the children's boarding home in the city of Oleshky, Kherson region”	Deutsche Welle
2023-05-31 04:14:00	BBC News Mundo (web)	«incluida otra escuela especial en Oleshki»“including another special school in Oleshki”	BBC
2024-05-02 13:25:55	The Independent (web)	«At least 82 children, aged between four and 18 were registered as living there.»“At least 82 children, aged between four and 18 were registered as living there.”	The Independent

Testimony about places of detention and torture, 2023–2026
Time (UTC)	Who	Quotation	Link
2023-01-24 15:14:01	Khersonline (Telegram, testimony of a Kherson resident)	«І в СІЗО в Олешках. Росіяни знущалися над людьми.»“And in the pretrial detention center in Oleshky. The Russians tormented people.”	Telegram: Khersonline
2025-02-25 09:01:03	RBC-Ukraine (web), account of a sailor from Oleshky	«його забрали в катівню, спочатку давали час "подумати", а потім почали катувати»“they took him to a torture chamber, at first gave him time to "think", and then began to torture him”	RBC-Ukraine
2026-09-12 05:35:19	Bez Tabu / Ukrinform, from a Prosecutor General's Office report (Sept. 2026)	«влаштував катівню для цивільних у затоплених Олешках»“set up a torture chamber for civilians in flooded Oleshky”	Bez Tabu
2026-10-14 23:02:46	Lenta.ru, Russia at the UN (Nebenzya): inversion of accusations, not an independent institution	«Алешки Херсонской области он назвал одним из примеров подобной политики.»“He named Aleshky in Kherson region as one of the examples of such a policy.”	Lenta.ru

Time (UTC)	Who	Quotation	Link
2023-06-06 07:53:32	suspilnekherson	«В Олешківській громаді підтоплені Кринки та населені пункти Козачелагірської сільради»“In the Oleshky community Krynky and the settlements of the Kozachi Lahery village council are flooded”	Telegram: suspilnekherson
2023-06-06 08:15:19	vgorunews	«В Олешках через підтоплення жителям приватних будинків уже доводиться перебиратися на другий поверх»“In Oleshky, because of flooding, residents of private houses already have to move to the second floor”	Telegram: vgorunews
2023-06-06 15:40:00	TSN.ua	«Олешки пішло під воду»“Oleshky has gone under water”	TSN
2023-06-06 15:47:00	POLITICO	«water is approaching the houses there»“water is approaching the houses there”	Politico
2023-06-06 18:11:38	oleshki_uaa	«дах знесло, самі не можуть евакуюватись»“the roof was blown off, they cannot evacuate themselves”	Telegram: oleshki_uaa
2023-06-06 19:05:53	defender_skadovsk	«НА ДАХУ ЛІТНЬОЇ КУХНІ СИДЯТЬ ДВІ ЖІНКИ»“TWO WOMEN ARE SITTING ON THE ROOF OF A SUMMER KITCHEN”	Telegram: defender_skadovsk
2023-06-08 20:27:00	ReliefWeb	«uncorroborated reports shared by media and civil society organizations about people stranded in the worst-affected parts of the Russian-controlled areas, including Hola Prystan and Oleshky towns»“uncorroborated reports shared by media and civil society organizations about people stranded in the worst-affected parts of the Russian-controlled areas, including Hola Prystan and Oleshky towns”	ReliefWeb

Time (UTC)	Who	Quotation	Link
2023-06-06 08:15:19	vgorunews	«росіяни тікають, кидаючи людей напризволяще»“the Russians are fleeing, abandoning people to their fate”	Telegram: vgorunews
2023-06-06 20:12:14	zmina_ua	«Росіяни не дають евакуювати з Олешок людей, в яких немає російських паспортів»“The Russians do not allow people without Russian passports to be evacuated from Oleshky”	Telegram: zmina_ua
2023-06-06 21:33:08	vizjastudy	«по всій території затоплення не пускають людей, тупо розвертають»“they are not letting people through anywhere across the flooded area, they simply turn them back”	Telegram: vizjastudy
2023-06-07 07:12:00	unian	«окупанти не пускають волонтерів, які могли б вивезти людей самотужки»“the occupiers do not let in volunteers who could take people out on their own”	UNIAN
2023-06-07 15:45:00	POLITICO	«Russian troops blocked them and forced them to return home»“Russian troops blocked them and forced them to return home”	Politico
2023-06-08 12:53:00	The Guardian	«Russian forces were preventing local volunteers from evacuating»“Russian forces were preventing local volunteers from evacuating”	The Guardian
2023-06-08 20:27:00	ReliefWeb	«due to a lack of access for aid workers and volunteer groups»“due to a lack of access for aid workers and volunteer groups”	ReliefWeb
2023-06-14 01:13:00	press.un.org	«the Russian Federation is yet to provide the safety guarantees we need to cross the front line to the left bank of the Dnipro River, including to Oleshky»“the Russian Federation is yet to provide the safety guarantees we need to cross the front line to the left bank of the Dnipro River, including to Oleshky”	UN Press
2023-06-14 19:00:00	Human Rights Watch	«Russian occupation authorities shut the town down for entry and exit, effectively locking people inside»“Russian occupation authorities shut the town down for entry and exit, effectively locking people inside”	Human Rights Watch

Time (UTC)	Who	Quotation	Link
2023-06-07 06:55:00	oleshki_uaa	«є втоплені , бачили як тіло плаває водою»“there are drowned people, I saw a body floating in the water”	Telegram: oleshki_uaa
2023-06-07 16:05:00	espreso.tv	«уже є перші загиблі внаслідок підтоплення»“there are already the first dead as a result of the flooding”	Espreso TV
2023-06-08 02:23:00	The Guardian	«Citing the exiled mayor of the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, Yevhen Ryshchuk»“Citing the exiled mayor of the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, Yevhen Ryshchuk”	The Guardian
2023-06-08 18:09:02	ukrainenow	«через затоплення загинули дев'ятеро людей»“nine people died because of the flooding”	Telegram: ukrainenow
2023-06-08 21:21:02	berlinspeaks	«Волонтеры заявили о сотнях погибших на оккупированных РФ территориях»“Volunteers reported hundreds of dead in the Russian-occupied territories”	Telegram: berlinspeaks
2023-06-09 19:41:00	ReliefWeb	«at least 8 people reportedly died in the flooding»“at least 8 people reportedly died in the flooding”	ReliefWeb
2023-12-28 05:29:53	Yahoo News	«AP concludes at least hundreds died in floods after Ukraine dam collapse, far more than Russia said»“AP concludes at least hundreds died in floods after Ukraine dam collapse, far more than Russia said”	Yahoo News

Time (UTC)	Who	Quotation	Link
2023-06-07 00:00:20	khersonnewsru	«К этой минуте полностью затоплен город Алешки»“As of this minute the city of Aleshky is completely flooded”	Telegram: khersonnewsru
2023-06-07 19:25:29	ukrainian_videos	«Нові супутникові знімки затоплених територій Херсонщини»“New satellite images of the flooded territories of Kherson region”	Telegram: ukrainian_videos
2023-06-07 20:49:00	Yahoo Sports	«it is the Russian-controlled east bank that has borne the brunt of the damage, according to satellite images and video footage»“it is the Russian-controlled east bank that has borne the brunt of the damage, according to satellite images and video footage”	Yahoo Sports
2023-06-08 10:31:00	The New York Times	«Residents of the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky, on the eastern bank of the Dnipro, pleaded for help in chat groups»“Residents of the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky, on the eastern bank of the Dnipro, pleaded for help in chat groups”	The New York Times
2023-06-16 15:32:00	ReliefWeb	«appeared to be mostly dry on 13 June, according to the images captured by UNOSAT»“appeared to be mostly dry on 13 June, according to the images captured by UNOSAT”	ReliefWeb

Time (UTC)	Who	Quotation	Link
2022-12-14 11:49:00	Ukrinform	«потрібен був терміново інсулін, людина вже й зір втрачала»“insulin was urgently needed, the person was already losing eyesight”	Ukrinform
2023-06-09 12:46:00	The Insider	«направить туда лекарства и инсулин»“will send medicines and insulin there”	The Insider
2023-10-04 04:56:47	hersono	«інсулін не отримаєш без паспорта»“you will not get insulin without a passport”	Telegram: hersono
2025-02-02 06:41:31	potipomu	«У меня есть списки ,а в них : диабетик, лежачие, маломобильные»“I have lists, and in them: diabetics, bedridden, people with limited mobility”	Telegram: potipomu
2026-02-06 17:31:02	newspn	«в місті дефіцит ліків та починається голод»“there is a shortage of medicines in the city and hunger is beginning”	Telegram: newspn
2026-05-16 05:50:44	Deutsche Welle	«Майже не завозять ліки»“Medicines are hardly delivered at all”	Deutsche Welle
2026-06-25 15:31:38	UN News	«нехваткой продовольствия и отсутствием медицинской помощи»“a shortage of food and a lack of medical care”	UN News
2026-10-24 04:20:41	vesti.ru	«В населенном пункте Алешки в Херсонской области не хватает инсулина»“There is a shortage of insulin in the settlement of Aleshky in Kherson region”	Vesti

Time (UTC)	Who	Quotation	Link
2022-10-01 16:04:00	Censor.NET	«З тимчасово окупованих Херсона, Олешок та Берислава продовжує надходити інформація про факти мародерст»“Information continues to come in from temporarily occupied Kherson, Oleshky and Beryslav about cases of looting”	Censor.NET
2022-11-21 13:01:32	medianova	«Грабують, - повідомляє Олешківський міський голова Євген Рищук»“They are looting, the Oleshky mayor Yevhen Ryshchuk reports”	Telegram: medianova
2022-12-04 20:07:06	ua_lives	«Ввічливо розмовляють, дивляться в очі і грабують»“They speak politely, look you in the eye and loot”	Telegram: ua_lives
2022-12-07 08:56:00	Radio Svoboda	«як грабували, так і грабують»“they looted before and they are still looting”	Radio Svoboda (RFE/RL)
2023-06-10 09:22:00	Ukrinform	«У затопленій Олешківській громаді військові РФ займаються мародерством»“In the flooded Oleshky community Russian troops are engaged in looting”	Ukrinform
2023-06-10 20:14:25	euromaidanpress	«Russian troops loot flooded Oleshky in Kherson Oblast, mayor says»“Russian troops loot flooded Oleshky in Kherson Oblast, mayor says”	Telegram: euromaidanpress

Time (UTC)	Who	Quotation	Link
2022-03-04 11:47:42	vgorunews	«Білозерка, Херсон, Олешки - 22 населені пункти без електропостачання»“Bilozerka, Kherson, Oleshky: 22 settlements without electricity”	Telegram: vgorunews
2022-05-29 09:59:26	hueviyherson	«В Олешках связи нет»“There is no communication in Aleshky”	Telegram: hueviyherson
2023-03-06 05:17:57	zlobnyi_surok	«В Алешках и Голой Пристани отключили связь»“Communication has been cut off in Aleshky and Hola Prystan”	Telegram: zlobnyi_surok
2023-06-06 15:47:00	POLITICO	«there is no electricity or communication in Oleshki now»“there is no electricity or communication in Oleshki now”	Politico
2023-06-24 06:00:00	LB.ua	«Місто без світла»“The city without light”	LB.ua
2023-08-13 20:58:31	nezlamnioleshky	«В Олешках глушать зв'язок»“Communication is being jammed in Oleshky”	Telegram: nezlamnioleshky
2025-08-23 23:06:11	nezlamnioleshky	«люди ще проживають в ньому без світла,води та газу»“people still live in it without light, water and gas”	Telegram: nezlamnioleshky

Time (UTC)	Who	Quotation	Link
2024-01-18 21:30:54	khersonoleshky	«Після затоплення і обстрілів в місті не залишилось нічого»“After the flooding and shelling nothing is left in the city”	Telegram: khersonoleshky
2025-02-02 06:41:31	potipomu	«Нет еды, воды , а кругом смерть.»“There is no food, no water, and death all around.”	Telegram: potipomu
2026-01-31 13:47:27	kherson_non_fake	«Некоторые люди уже испытывают серьезный дефицит с продуктами, начинается голод.»“Some people are already experiencing a serious shortage of food, hunger is beginning.”	Telegram: kherson_non_fake
2026-02-06 17:31:02	newspn	«в місті дефіцит ліків та починається голод»“there is a shortage of medicines in the city and hunger is beginning”	Telegram: newspn
2026-02-25 09:50:00	Ukrinform	«немає продуктів, тут люди гинуть та зникають»“there is no food, people are dying and disappearing here”	Ukrinform
2026-04-06 10:04:39	mostks	«6 діб тіло матері лежить у так званому морзі»“for 6 days the mother's body has been lying in the so-called morgue”	Telegram: mostks
2026-05-07 10:29:00	ipress.ua	«близько 2000 мирних жителів опинилися без доступу до їжі, чистої води та медичної допомоги»“about 2,000 civilians found themselves without access to food, clean water and medical care”	IPress
2026-05-16 05:50:44	Deutsche Welle	«В Олешках голод»“There is hunger in Oleshky”	Deutsche Welle
2026-06-04 15:54:11	torontotv	«росіяни забирають тіла загиблих мешканців й хоронять їх у невідомих місцях»“the Russians are taking the bodies of dead residents and burying them in unknown places”	Telegram: torontotv
2026-06-25 15:31:38	UN News	«нехваткой продовольствия и отсутствием медицинской помощи»“a shortage of food and a lack of medical care”	UN News
2026-09-25 07:20:58	BBC	«Суп з бур'яну і собаки, які їдять тіла»“Soup made of weeds and dogs eating bodies”	BBC
2026-09-28 16:16:52	Deutsche Welle	«Каллас про Олешки»“Kallas on Oleshky”	Deutsche Welle

Time (UTC)	Who	Quotation	Link
2026-01-17 09:17:00	leftbank2025	«Трагічна подія в Олешках: евакуація зірвана через підрив на міні»“Tragic event in Oleshky: evacuation foiled by a landmine blast”	Telegram: leftbank2025
2026-01-17 12:44:00	kherson_non_fake	«Информация от местных жителей в оккупированных Олешках»“Information from local residents in occupied Oleshky”	Telegram: kherson_non_fake
2026-01-18 07:34:07	nezlamnioleshky	«Під час спроби евакуації автомобіль підірвався на міні на вʼїзді до міста.»“During an evacuation attempt a car hit a mine at the entrance to the city.”	Telegram: nezlamnioleshky
2026-01-20 04:06:20	RIA Novosti	«В Алешках на мине подорвался гражданский легковой автомобиль, сразу три человека получили ранения»“In Aleshky a civilian passenger car hit a mine, three people were wounded at once”	RIA Novosti
2026-01-20 12:38:08	OBOZREVATEL	«під час евакуації місцевих жителів на міні підірвався автомобіль, у результаті чого загинув водій»“during the evacuation of local residents a car hit a mine, as a result of which the driver was killed”	Obozrevatel

Time (UTC)	Who	Quotation	Link
2025-05-01 11:50:00	Daily Mail Online	«At least seven people were killed and more than 20 wounded in a Ukrainian drone attack on a busy market»“At least seven people were killed and more than 20 wounded in a Ukrainian drone attack on a busy market”	Daily Mail
2026-05-21 12:01:17	vgorunews	«Російські військові збивали українські дрони, які намагалися доставити ліки та продукти людям в окупованих Олешках»“Russian troops shot down Ukrainian drones that were trying to deliver medicines and food to people in occupied Oleshky”	Telegram: vgorunews
2026-09-01 15:08:58	kot_k_s	«Сьогодні 01.09.26 під Олешками дронами чітко відпрацювали по машинах»“Today, 01.09.26, near Oleshky they clearly worked over the cars with drones”	Telegram: kot_k_s
2026-09-01 15:43:29	RT in Russian	«Украинские военные беспилотниками атаковали гуманитарную колонну из четырёх машин»“Ukrainian troops attacked a humanitarian convoy of four vehicles with drones”	RT
2026-09-14 07:28:24	OBOZ.UA	«1 вересня колону з гуманітарним вантажем, на яку місцеві чекали близько місяця, атакували дрони»“On September 1 drones attacked a convoy with humanitarian cargo that locals had been waiting for about a month”	Obozrevatel
2026-09-23 02:45:04	uniannet	«Украина пытается доставлять продукты людям с помощью дронов»“Ukraine is trying to deliver food to people with the help of drones”	Telegram: uniannet
2026-09-27 13:58:08	Deutsche Welle	«Українські військові дронами доставили гумдопомогу в Олешки»“Ukrainian troops delivered humanitarian aid to Oleshky by drones”	Deutsche Welle
2026-10-24 04:20:41	vesti.ru	«В населенном пункте Алешки в Херсонской области не хватает инсулина»“There is a shortage of insulin in the settlement of Aleshky in Kherson region”	Vesti

Key points

What was reported from Oleshky before 2026

How much was written about the city, and about what

2025–2026: hunger, blockade and an evacuation that was nearly impossible

Food shortage in the city, 2025–2026

Jan. 17, 2026: evacuation vehicle hit a mine

Strikes on convoys and food delivered by drone, 2025–2026

Shortage of medicine and insulin, 2022–2026

2024–2025: Oleshky nearly vanished from the news

September–October 2026: the response came late

Timeline of the response in 2026

19 stories: who responded, and when

Conclusions

First signals, 2022–2023

2022: detentions and passports

March 21, 2022: soldiers took away a local resident

March 23, 2022: director of a Kherson theater detained

April 5–6, 2022: mayor left over a threat

May 11, 2022: occupation forces posted a video of an interrogation with torture

Sept. 24, 2022: three men abducted

June 27, 2022: Russian passport issuing office opened

Work, medical care and aid tied to a passport, 2022–2026

October 2022: children from the Oleshky boarding school

Testimony about places of detention and torture

Mayor and police speak of looting, 2022–2023

Electricity and communications cut off, 2022–2026

June 6, 2023: the flooding of Oleshky

June 6, 2023: Oleshky under water

June 6–8, 2023: witnesses say evacuation was blocked

June 7–8, 2023: the first deaths

June 7–8, 2023: satellite images of the flooding

2023: how many people died

How we checked

Appendix

Quotations and links

How reports left the city

The arrested theater director, March 23, 2022

Interrogation video, May 11, 2022

Removal of boarding-school children, October–November 2022

The flood and the dispute over the death toll, June 6–9, 2023

Food shortage: the post of Jan. 31, 2026

“There has been no food since May 26, 2026”

September–October 2026: from anonymous testimony to a ceasefire

Methodology

Fact register

Time (UTC)	Who	Quotation	Link
2022-03-23 08:39:00	Ryshchuk (Facebook video address, as retold by Ukrinform)	«Десь пів години тому був заарештований»“About half an hour ago he was arrested”	Ukrinform
2022-03-23 10:24:49	ukraina24tv (144,376)	«Олешківський міський голова Рищук Євген»“Oleshky mayor Yevhen Ryshchuk”	Telegram: ukraina24tv
2022-03-23 13:26:00	Ukrinform-EN	«Mayor of Oleshky Yevhen Ryshchuk said in a video address posted on Facebook»“Mayor of Oleshky Yevhen Ryshchuk said in a video address posted on Facebook”	Ukrinform
2022-03-23 18:25:00	La Repubblica (Italy)	«lo ha reso noto con un video su Facebook, Yevhen Ryshchuk, sindaco di Oleshky»“made it known in a video on Facebook, Yevhen Ryshchuk, mayor of Oleshky”	La Repubblica
2022-03-23 19:54:00	Ukrinform (Yermak's statement)	«Олешківський міський голова Євген Рищук у відеозверненні у Фейсбуці повідомив»“Oleshky mayor Yevhen Ryshchuk reported in a video address on Facebook”	Ukrinform

Time (UTC)	Who	Quotation	Link
2022-05-11 06:03:00	Khlan (Facebook) via Ukrinform, 06:03	«про це у Фейсбуці повідомив депутат Херсонської облради Сергій Хлань»“this was reported on Facebook by Kherson regional council deputy Serhii Khlan”	Ukrinform
2022-05-11 10:53:11	Denisova (own channel, 1,135)	«Окупанти виклали у вільний доступ відео допиту викраденого ними мешканця Олешків на Херсонщині»“The occupiers made publicly available a video of the interrogation of an Oleshky resident of Kherson region abducted by them”	Telegram: Denisova
2022-05-11 10:59:32	svidomi_ua (8,721)	«Про це свідчить опубліковане росіянами відео, передає омбудсменка Людмила Денісова.»“This is evidenced by a video published by the Russians, reports ombudsperson Liudmyla Denisova.”	Telegram: svidomi_ua
2022-05-11 12:04:00	Espreso (web)	«Про це в телеграмі написала омбудсман Людмила Денісова.»“Ombudsman Liudmyla Denisova wrote about this on Telegram.”	Espreso TV
2022-05-11 13:14:00	Denisova → UN Commission (via bigmir)	«Денисова обратилась к Комиссии ООН по расследованию нарушений прав человека во время военного вторжения войск РФ с просьбой учесть эти факты военных преступлений и нарушения прав человека»“Denisova appealed to the UN Commission investigating human rights violations during the military invasion by Russian troops, asking it to take into account these facts of war crimes and human rights violations”	bigmir
2022-07-22 04:01:00	Human Rights Watch (July 22, 2022)	«in the town of Oleshky in Kherson region»“in the town of Oleshky in Kherson region”	Human Rights Watch

Time (UTC)	Who	Quotation	Link
2022-10-21 16:19:24	Ryshchuk (own channel, 2,113 views)	«Яка їх подальша доля нікому невідомо.»“Their further fate is known to no one.”	Telegram: Ryshchuk
2022-10-23 14:32:22	Yermak (135,395)	«Ця інформація вже надійшла до Офісу Уповноваженого Верховної Ради України з прав людини.»“This information has already been received by the Office of the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights of Ukraine.”	Telegram: Yermak
2022-10-23 16:22:06	znua_live (13,368)	«У закладі перебувало 82 дитини, 40 з яких є паліативними.»“There were 82 children in the facility, 40 of whom are palliative.”	Telegram: znua_live
2022-10-23 17:41:00	Ukrinform (English)	«Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian President's Office, said this in a statement on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.»“Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian President's Office, said this in a statement on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.”	Ukrinform
2022-11-05 12:35:25	Lubinets (Verkhovna Rada, 15,458)	«Отримав перевірену інформацію про чергове вивезення вихованців»“Received verified information about another removal of pupils”	Telegram: Lubinets
2022-11-05 13:36:00	Interfax-Ukraine (English)	«Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets has received information about the illegal removal of children»“Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets has received information about the illegal removal of children”	Interfax-Ukraine

Time (UTC)	Who	Quotation	Link
2023-06-06 15:40:00	TSN.ua (June 6, 15:40)	«Через теракт Росії Олешки повністю підтоплені.»“Because of Russia's act of terror, Oleshky is completely flooded.”	TSN
2023-06-06 19:05:53	defender_skadovsk (20,939), 19:05	«SOS! ТЕРМІНОВО ПОТРІБНА ДОПОМОГА!»“SOS! HELP IS URGENTLY NEEDED!”	Telegram: defender_skadovsk
2023-06-07 07:15:13	ASTRA (37,094), June 7, 07:15	«Таких сообщений — более сотни.»“There are more than a hundred such messages.”	Telegram: ASTRA
2023-06-07 15:45:00	Politico, June 7, 15:45	«Yevhen Ryshchuk, the Ukrainian mayor-in-exile of Oleshky, said in a Facebook post that Russian forces had abandoned the town»“Yevhen Ryshchuk, the Ukrainian mayor-in-exile of Oleshky, said in a Facebook post that Russian forces had abandoned the town”	Politico
2023-06-07 21:16:00	The New York Times, June 7, 21:16	«residents of the town of Oleshky pleaded for help on an online chat group»“residents of the town of Oleshky pleaded for help on an online chat group”	The New York Times
2023-06-08 02:23:00	The Guardian, June 8, 02:23	«Citing the exiled mayor of the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, Yevhen Ryshchuk, the Kyiv Independent reported»“Citing the exiled mayor of the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, Yevhen Ryshchuk, the Kyiv Independent reported”	The Guardian
2023-06-09 08:16:49	Meduza (251,575), June 9	«The Insider со ссылкой на волонтера из Алешек написал о более чем 30 погибших только на одной улице города»“The Insider, citing a volunteer from Aleshky, wrote about more than 30 dead on just one street of the city”	Telegram: Meduza
2023-06-09 19:41:00	OCHA Flash Update #4 (June 9, 19:41)	«Anecdotal and uncorroborated reports from local volunteers and authorities indicate that the situation appears to be critical in Oleshky town»“Anecdotal and uncorroborated reports from local volunteers and authorities indicate that the situation appears to be critical in Oleshky town”	ReliefWeb
2023-06-10 14:15:00	Kherson doctor (Fakty, June 10)	«Вчора зранку мені повідомили про більше ніж 90 трупів тільки в Олешках»“Yesterday morning I was told about more than 90 corpses in Oleshky alone”	Fakty ICTV
2023-06-11 13:29:00	Prokudin (June 11)	«Ті цифри, які називають (про сотні загиблих, - ред.), це не підтверджена інформація»“The figures being cited (about hundreds of dead, - ed.) are unconfirmed information”	TSN
2023-12-28 05:29:54	AP (Dec. 28, 2023)	«An AP investigation has found that Russian occupation authorities vastly and deliberately undercounted the dead»“An AP investigation has found that Russian occupation authorities vastly and deliberately undercounted the dead”	KEYT

Time (UTC)	Who	Quotation	Link
2026-01-31 13:47:27	Kherson: Non Fake (120,391), Jan. 31	«нет подвоза продуктов питания УЖЕ БОЛЕЕ 12 ДНЕЙ!»“there has been no delivery of food for MORE THAN 12 DAYS ALREADY!”	Telegram: Kherson: Non Fake
2026-02-06 17:31:02	newspn (28,267), Feb. 6	«Про це повідомляє проєкт “Херсон: Non Fake”.»“This is reported by the project “Kherson: Non Fake”.”	Telegram: newspn
2026-02-12 10:21:25	Vhoru, Feb. 12 (4,675)	«Стає все гірше»“It is getting worse”	Telegram: Vhoru
2026-03-29 19:12:05	Prokudin (via the occupation political channel politwera, March 29)	«вынуждены выживать в условиях, напоминающих Голодомор 1932-1933 годов»“forced to survive in conditions reminiscent of the Holodomor of 1932-1933”	Telegram: Prokudin
2026-04-06 10:04:39	Most, on Skhid SOS, April 6 (3,996)	«Команда Благодійного фонду «Схід SOS» провела 10 інтервʼю зі свідками російських воєнних злочинів у місті Олешки.»“The team of the Skhid SOS charitable foundation conducted 10 interviews with witnesses of Russian war crimes in the city of Oleshky.”	Telegram: Most
2026-04-26 09:16:21	lachentyt (442,870), April 26	«цитують журналісти щоденник мешканки в окупованих Олешках на Херсонщині»“journalists quote the diary of a woman resident of occupied Oleshky in Kherson region”	Telegram: lachentyt
2026-05-06 15:23:31	Foreign Ministry statement, May 6	«особливе занепокоєння викликає ситуація в Олешках, Голій Пристані»“the situation in Oleshky and Hola Prystan is of particular concern”	Interfax-Ukraine
2026-05-07 18:21:11	Live: Ukraine, May 7 (ICRC)	«So far, only the ICRC has responded.»“So far, only the ICRC has responded.”	Telegram: Live: Ukraine
2026-05-16 05:50:44	DW, May 16	«Фінансово допомагає організувати евакуацію громадська організація Save Ukraine.»“The public organization Save Ukraine helps finance the organization of the evacuation.”	Deutsche Welle

Time (UTC)	Who	Quotation	Link
2026-05-26 16:05:00	Prokudin (video interview, Censor.NET), May 26	«їжу та продукти не завозять»“food and groceries are not being brought in”	Censor.NET
2026-06-12 15:02:34	Hasanenko (Ukrinform radio, ukr.radio, 15:02), June 12	«Остання комерційна пропозиція, коли змогли заїхати дві машини в Олешки для реалізації продуктів, відбулася 26 травня.»“The last commercial offer, when two vehicles were able to enter Oleshky to sell goods, took place on May 26.”	Ukrainian Radio
2026-06-25 11:37:39	HRMMU (Radio Svoboda), June 25	«не надходило жодних поставок продовольства з 26 травня»“no food supplies have been received since May 26”	Radio Svoboda (RFE/RL)
2026-06-25 16:02:18	DW, June 25	«Ті розповіли про проблеми, які DW описувала ще в травні»“Those told of the problems that DW had already described in May”	Deutsche Welle

Time (UTC)	Who	Quotation	Link
2026-09-10 09:26:36	berezajuice (26,660), Sept. 10	«Ситуація з Олешками потребує міжнародного розголосу.»“The situation with Oleshky needs international publicity.”	Telegram: berezajuice
2026-09-13 10:49:01	Gordon (50,406), Sept. 13, 10:49	«Волонтеры и местные жители рассказывают об обстрелах гуманитарных колонн дронами»“Volunteers and local residents tell of shelling of humanitarian convoys by drones”	Telegram: Gordon
2026-09-13 15:46:30	Sybiha (Foreign Ministry), Sept. 13, 15:46	«Олешки залишаються в гуманітарній пастці через російську окупацію, — Сибіга»“Oleshky remains in a humanitarian trap because of the Russian occupation, — Sybiha”	Telegram: Sybiha
2026-09-13 19:10:25	NEXTA (180,601), Sept. 13, 19:10	«Последняя поставка продуктов состоялась 26 мая.»“The last delivery of food took place on May 26.”	Telegram: NEXTA
2026-09-16 14:57:01	Vakarchuk (niklifeua, 31,328), Sept. 16	«Святослав Вакарчук закликав забезпечити гуманітарний коридор з Олешок»“Sviatoslav Vakarchuk called for a humanitarian corridor from Oleshky to be ensured”	Telegram: Vakarchuk
2026-09-16 20:00:06	Lubinets (tsaplienko, 107,616), Sept. 16	«За його даними, список людей для евакуації вже був погоджений, а Міжнародний Комітет Червоного Хреста висловив готовність долучитися до гуманітарної місії»“According to him, the list of people for evacuation had already been agreed, and the International Committee of the Red Cross had expressed readiness to join the humanitarian mission”	Telegram: Lubinets
2026-09-20 13:20:45	Sybiha (RBC), Sept. 20	«Україна виносить ситуацію в Олешках на Генасамблею ООН»“Ukraine is bringing the situation in Oleshky to the UN General Assembly”	RBC-Ukraine
2026-09-28 11:23:34	Kaja Kallas (European Pravda), Sept. 28	«Каллас про Олешки: "це чітко показує, що відбувається з людьми в окупації»“Kallas on Oleshky: "this clearly shows what is happening to people under occupation”	European Pravda
2026-09-28 15:12:00	BTA (Bulgaria), citing Reuters, Sept. 28	«заяви губернаторът на Херсонска област Олександър Прокудин, цитиран от Ройтерс»“said the governor of Kherson region Oleksandr Prokudin, quoted by Reuters”	BTA
2026-09-30 18:29:18	UNN citing Reuters, Vatican envoy, Sept. 30	«Папський посланець Маттео Дзуппі провів у москві переговори про гуманітарні питання війни»“Papal envoy Matteo Zuppi held talks in Moscow on humanitarian issues of the war”	UNN
2026-10-16 15:36:17	Pope Leo XIV, phone call, Oct. 16 (noel_reports, 33,317)	«Pope Leo XIV held a phone call with Putin today, according to the Vatican.»“Pope Leo XIV held a phone call with Putin today, according to the Vatican.”	Telegram: Pope Leo XIV
2026-10-23 19:39:25	Lubinets / Melania Trump, Oct. 23 (625,804)	«Перша леді США Меланія Трамп заявила про початок гуманітарної місії з порятунку людей в Олешках.»“US First Lady Melania Trump announced the start of a humanitarian mission to rescue people in Oleshky.”	Telegram: Lubinets / Melania Trump
2026-10-27 01:06:35	Ceasefire, Oct. 27 (710,308)	«В окупованих Олешках стартував режим припинення вогню, – Лубінець»“A ceasefire regime has started in occupied Oleshky, – Lubinets”	Telegram: Ceasefire

No.	Date	Fact	Sources
S1	Feb 24 – Nov 11, 2022	Oleshky was occupied on Feb. 24, 2022; before the war the city had about 24,000 residents. Kherson was liberated on Nov. 11, 2022; in retreating, Russian forces blew up the Antonivskyi Bridge, and Oleshky remained on the occupied left bank.	Wikipedia, Radio Svoboda (RFE/RL), Kyiv Independent
FP1	Mar 21, 2022	First posts from the city or about the city: March 21, 2022 (detention of a local resident, Suspilne Kherson citing the mayor’s video address), June 27, 2022 (a Russian passport issuing office), Oct. 21, 2022 (removal of children from the boarding school, the mayor’s channel), June 6, 2023 (flooding, first mention of the threat at 03:28 UTC).	Telegram: Суспільне Херсон, Telegram: Мер Олешок Є. Рищук, Telegram: vgorunews
CS2	2022	2022 episodes (c1–c6): delay to national media 0–0.2 days; international material was found in two (Radio Svoboda, Ukrainian service, 4 and 6 days), in four it was not found in the collected material.	Radio Svoboda (RFE/RL)
CS3	Jun 28, 2022	Passport as a condition for aid: first post June 28, 2022; AP (June 9, 2023, +346 days) and Amnesty (June 15, 2023, +352 days) mentioned it in connection with the flood.	Associated Press, Amnesty International, Radio Svoboda (RFE/RL)
IN1	Jul 22, 2022	HRW, in a report on torture and disappearances in the occupied south, describes the detention of “Stepan” at home in Oleshky; the family had no further news of him.	Human Rights Watch
CS4	Oct 21, 2022	Children of the Oleshky boarding school: first post Oct. 21, 2022; national media and DW (Ukrainian) +2 days; The Independent +559 days (May 2, 2024); OHCHR, 36th report +347 days (Oct. 4, 2023).	UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), The Independent, Deutsche Welle, Telegram: Мер Олешок Є. Рищук
S4	Oct 21, 2022 – Jun 23, 2026	How many children were removed from the Oleshky boarding school: 16 (mayor of Oleshky, Oct. 21, 2022); 12 in Crimea, 82 in the facility, 40 palliative (Office of the President, Oct. 23, 2022); 52 pupils in Crimea (Lvova-Belova, according to The Independent, Nov. 12, 2022); 28 children to Crimea (OHCHR, 36th report, par. 92, Oct. 4, 2023); 46 of 84 located (Emile Foundation, June 23, 2026).	Telegram: Мер Олешок Є. Рищук, Telegram: Є. Єрмак, The Independent, UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR)
SP2	Jan 24, 2023	“Torture sites”: first post in the collected material Jan. 24, 2023; first national story Feb. 25, 2025 (+763 days); official Ukrainian reaction Sept. 12, 2026 (+1,327 days).	Telegram: Херсонлайн, RBC-Ukraine, Bez Tabu
IN7	Mar 17, 2023	On March 17, 2023, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Putin and Lvova-Belova over the alleged unlawful deportation of children from occupied territories. No documents of the ICC or the ECHR specifically about the Oleshky boarding school were found.	International Criminal Court
RL3	Jun 6, 2023	The fact of the flood reached national and international media and OCHA within hours to three days: TSN June 6, 2023, 15:40, Politico 15:47, OCHA June 8, 20:27 (2.7 days), HRW June 14 (8.6 days).	TSN, Politico, ReliefWeb, Human Rights Watch
S2	Jun 6, 2023	On June 6, 2023, the dam of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant was destroyed. At 07:53 UTC Suspilne Kherson wrote about flooding of the community, at 08:15 the channel Vhoru relayed a reader’s letter about residents moving to the second floor, at 15:40 TSN wrote «Олешки пішли під воду» [“Oleshky went under water”], and at 15:47 Politico reported on it. Ukrainian outlets called the destruction a terrorist attack by Russia; we do not assess who is responsible.	Telegram: suspilnekherson, Telegram: vgorunews, TSN, Politico
S3	Jun 7, 2023	UNOSAT published a preliminary assessment of the flooding of Oleshky based on a WorldView-3 image of June 7, 2023, not verified on the ground; on June 9 it added the dynamics of the flooded area from Landsat-9 images.	BTAA Geoportal (UNOSAT), Humanitarian Data Exchange (UNOSAT)
LR6	Jun 8, 2023	Flood death toll: on June 8, 2023, the mayor gave 9, a volunteer coordinator «сотні» [“hundreds”]; AP, Dec. 28, 2023: “at least hundreds” (200–300 is the estimate of one medical worker); the Russian side — 59. From June 8 to Dec. 28 — 203 days.	Telegram: ukrainenow, Telegram: berlinspeaks, Telegram: @astrapress, Telegram: @mostks
F1	Jun 8, 2023	Estimates of Oleshky’s population from various sides: 3,500–4,000 in the city (mayor, June 8, 2023), 6,000 (Russian channel, Oct. 10, 2024), ~2,000 (local, May 2, 2025), 2,000–3,000 (Russia-appointed head of the district, Jan. 17, 2026), ~2,000 (regional military administration, March 2026), ~1,700–1,800 (a volunteer, May 16, 2026; city military administration, June 12, 2026). Prewar ~24,000 (city), 38,500–40,000 (community). There is no independent count.	Komsomolskaya Pravda in Ukraine, Telegram: @aleshkii, Krym.Realii (RFE/RL), TASS
F2	Jun 8, 2023	The population collapse happened largely before the blockade: as early as June 8, 2023, the mayor estimated 3,500–4,000 in the city (from ~24,000), and in 2026 both sides give ~2,000 (Russia: 2,000–3,000). The community is ~6,000 (city military administration, Feb. 25, 2026; Foreign Ministry, May 6, 2026).	Komsomolskaya Pravda in Ukraine, Ukrainska Pravda, Ukrinform
F4	Jun 10, 2023	Missing persons and requests: 374 missing (volunteer database, “Agentstvo,” June 10, 2023); ~6,000 people at ~1,700 addresses (“Verstka,” June 8, 2023); «понад 1 700 заявок» [“more than 1,700 requests”] (June 10). Trap: the number 1,700 is also 1,700 evacuated (June 7, 2023) and 1,700 residents (2026).	Ekho Kavkaza (RFE/RL), Telegram: @svobodnieslova, Azattyq (RFE/RL), Telegram: @sofiya_fedyna
IN2	Jun 14, 2023	In “Loss after loss after loss,” HRW said that in Oleshky and other occupied areas the authorities are not fulfilling their duty to help people; 90 percent of the city was flooded.	Human Rights Watch
IN3	Oct 4, 2023	OHCHR (36th report) identified by name 15 civilians who died in the flood, including in Oleshky; recorded that volunteers were blocked from reaching about 600 people in central Oleshky and the arrest of three volunteers on June 6 and one more on June 9; reported the transfer of 28 children from an Oleshky institution to Crimea (par. 92).	UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR)
IN4	Dec 28, 2023	AP found that the occupation authorities deliberately understated the number of flood deaths: in Oleshky at least hundreds, 200–300 by medics’ estimates, against 59 according to Russia.	Anchorage Daily News (AP), RFE/RL
IN5	Mar 26, 2024	OHCHR (38th report) received credible allegations of extrajudicial executions of 10 civilians, almost all in Kherson Oblast, “such as Oleshky,” and noted that these cases require further verification.	UN in Ukraine
SP1	Feb 2, 2025 – Jan 31, 2026	Peak of silence Feb. 2, 2025 – Jan. 31, 2026: hunger and medicine; one testimony from inside (186 views), first national reaction Feb. 6, 2026.	Telegram: khersonoleshky, Telegram: potipomu, Telegram: kherson_non_fake
sk-6	May 2025	May 2025 (1,076 posts, 8.05 million views): May 1–8 account for 67 percent of posts and 77 percent of views; the top posts are the Russian presentation of the strike on the market on May 1, 2025 (Readovka 852,565, RIA Novosti 699,208, Zakharova 203,056). This is not testimony of hunger. According to Reuters, a Russian official said at least seven were killed; Ukraine denied this.	Daily Mail, Telegram: @readovkanews, Telegram: @rian_ru, Telegram: @mariavladimirovnazakharova
S5	Jan 17, 2026	On Jan. 17, 2026, at 09:17 UTC a regional channel reported that an evacuation had failed: a vehicle hit a mine; on Jan. 18 a local channel wrote about the driver’s death; on Jan. 20 Obozrevatel repeated this, and RIA Novosti relayed the Russian side’s words about three injured. Where the mine came from is unknown.	Telegram: leftbank2025, Telegram: nezlamnioleshky, Obozrevatel, RIA Novosti
CH5	Jan 31, 2026	Hunger chronology 2026: first large post Jan. 31, 2026 (120,391 views) → national web media +25 days → DW May 16, 2026 +105 days → UN mission June 25, 2026 +145 days. The national Telegram channel newspn picked up the topic on Feb. 6, 2026 (+6 days); HRW — July 9, 2026 (+159 days).	Telegram: kherson_non_fake, Telegram: newspn, Deutsche Welle, Radio Svoboda (RFE/RL)
S12	Apr 27, 2026	On April 27, 2026, Novaya Gazeta Europe quoted Volodymyr Saldo, who called the crisis in Oleshky «брехливою київською пропагандою» [“false Kyiv propaganda”].	Novaya Gazeta Europe
SP3	May 21 – Sep 23, 2026	Food delivery by drone: from May 21, 2026 to Sept. 23, 2026 national media did not write about it; DW — Sept. 27, 2026.	Telegram: vgorunews, Telegram: uniannet, Deutsche Welle
F6	May 26 – Jun 25, 2026	The last regular food delivery to Oleshky was on May 26, 2026; regional military administration head Prokudin said so on May 26, city military administration head Hasanenko on June 12; the UN human rights mission confirmed it on June 25 (+13 days) and gave the losses: at least 29 killed and 54 injured in Oleshky and Hola Prystan since the start of the year. In May, 32 people left the city on May 9–11 (according to HRMMU).	Ukrainian Radio, Radio Svoboda (RFE/RL), UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, Censor.NET
S20	Sep 1, 2026	On Sept. 1, 2026, Ukrainian channels and Obozrevatel reported that Russian drones hit a convoy with humanitarian cargo that locals had been waiting for for about a month; RT relayed the Russian side’s statement that Ukrainian drones attacked the convoy of four vehicles. There is no independent confirmation of either version.	Obozrevatel, RT
S7	Sep 16, 2026	On Sept. 16, 2026, ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets gave figures: more than 6,000 people in the community, about 200 children, 358 people who need immediate evacuation.	Kyiv Independent, Telegram: Лубінець
S8	Sep 22–23, 2026	On Sept. 22, 2026, Reuters wrote that the Kremlin acknowledges a critical shortage in Oleshky but blames Kyiv; on Sept. 23, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha spoke about Oleshky at the UN and urged pressure on Russia over humanitarian corridors. No separate UN Security Council meeting on Oleshky was found.	Internazionale (Reuters), UNN, Interfax-Ukraine
S6	Sep 25, 2026	On Sept. 25, 2026, BBC Ukrainian published a report on life in Oleshky: «Суп з бур’яну і собаки, які їдять тіла» [“Weed soup and dogs that eat bodies”].	BBC
S11	Sep 27, 2026	On Sept. 27, 2026, Dmitry Peskov, as relayed by TASS, said Ukraine «нібито перешкоджає доставці» [“is allegedly obstructing the delivery”] of food and medicine. Inform ZP notes that Ukraine does not control the city, and HRMMU records that there have been no deliveries since May 26. This is a statement by the Russian side; there is no independent confirmation.	Inform ZP
AD1	October 2026	In October 2026, compared with June 2023, there are 6.3 times as many raw Telegram posts, 3.1 times as many in a cohort of 106 channels, and 0.72 times as many views of Ukrainian Wikipedia. The number of Telegram channels writing about the city per month grew from roughly 100 to 8,077.	Telegram: @dkulko
S10	Oct 7, 2026	On Oct. 7, 2026, EU Commissioner Hadja Lahbib said civilians in Oleshky were “trapped under siege by Russian forces,” and that Russia, as the occupying power, must protect civilians and facilitate aid.	European External Action Service
S17	Oct 14, 2026	On Oct. 14, 2026, an informal Arria-formula meeting convened by Russia took place; OCHA called for practical arrangements on access. No decisions were adopted; no formal Security Council meeting on Oleshky was found.	Security Council Report
S13	Oct 16, 2026	On Oct. 16, 2026, Pope Leo XIV phoned Putin to ask for a truce in Oleshky; the Kremlin put the responsibility on Kyiv but agreed to cooperate.	Euronews, Telegram: Папа Лев XIV
S9	Oct 17, 2026	On Oct. 17, 2026, Andrii Sybiha said Russian troops were trying to turn Oleshky into a «смертельну пастку» [“deadly trap”], and urged the UN and the ICRC to provide corridors. These are the minister’s words.	LB.ua
S14	Oct 20–24, 2026	On Oct. 20, 2026, European Parliament Vice-President Picierno announced a hunger strike to draw attention to civilians in Oleshky; on Oct. 24 she ended it after the ceasefire was announced.	Meduza, Kyiv Independent
AD2	Oct 23–29, 2026	On Oct. 23–29, 2026, 7,053 channels wrote, 4,191 of which had not appeared before.	Telegram: @truexanewsua
S15	Oct 23, 2026	On Oct. 23, 2026, the White House said Melania Trump had secured an agreement on a local ceasefire in Oleshky; the same day Russia’s General Staff announced a start date of Oct. 27.	Al Jazeera, Meduza, Dzerkalo Tyzhnia (Mirror Weekly)
S19	Oct 25, 2026	On Oct. 25, 2026, Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia would clear the roads of mines in such a way that people would go «в бік Росії і залишились там» [“toward Russia and stayed there”]. This is the president’s assessment, not a proven fact.	Ukrainska Pravda
S16	Oct 27, 2026	The ceasefire («режим тиші» [“regime of silence”]) began on Oct. 27, 2026, at 3 a.m. Kyiv time (Ukraine’s General Staff) and runs until 10:59 p.m. on Nov. 1; Russia’s Defense Ministry announced it from 4 a.m. Moscow time.	Radio Svoboda (RFE/RL), LIGA.net, Al Jazeera
S18	Oct 30, 2026	On Oct. 30, 2026, an evacuation began: Lubinets and Russian ombudswoman Yana Lantratova were in the city and brought buses and aid; the route runs through Crimea, Anapa and Homel. The prime minister gave a figure of 527 evacuated and immediately said the number is inaccurate. The sources do not name any participation by the ICRC or the UN; there is no independent report from the city.	Ukrainska Pravda, ABC17 (CNN), RFE/RL
AM-F1	entire period	The city’s voices (Ryshchuk, Hasanenko, Prokudin, Lubinets) come in waves: 2022 and June 2023, then near silence, then September–October 2026; from December 2023 to December 2025 Ryshchuk made 12 posts, Hasanenko 20, Prokudin 16, Lubinets 2.	Telegram: @kavuncity, Telegram: @suspilnekherson, Telegram: @ukrainenow, Telegram: @dmytro_lubinetzs
AM-F4	entire period	The mayor’s words (Facebook video) appeared on the channel tch_channel (385,332 views) 38 minutes after the very first copy; a chain through Suspilne is not proven.	Telegram: @suspilnekherson, Telegram: @tch_channel
AM-F8	entire period	Volunteer channels are small and are not quoted by large outlets: nezlamnioleshky 27 posts/115,589, typovi_oleshky 90/73,267, uaoleshki 64, oleshkinews 24; aleshkisegodny is an occupation administration (169 posts, 199,000).	Telegram: @zradnykyglpr, Telegram: nezlamnioleshky
VO1	entire period	Share of views of Telegram posts about Oleshky that went to occupation and Russian state channels: 2022 — 17 percent, 2023 — 16 percent, 2024 — 27 percent, 2025 — 38 percent, 2026 — 16 percent.
CS1	entire period	Episodes (19): national media reacted within a day in 12; international material was found in 12; institutions reacted in 11. Delays are counted from the earliest post from the city.
TM1	entire period	A sample of 1,400 items (140 per half-year), 11 themes, human reading; agreement of two readers on a shared 150 — 97.3 percent (κ 0.97). Shares by half-year: 2023H1 flood 58 percent; 2025 shelling 51–53 percent; 2026H1 survival 29 percent; 2026H2 diplomacy 63 percent. Detentions 23, children 14, passports 7 of 1,400.
AC1	entire period	Matrix of actions and declarations: 51 entries; in 2022 and 2024–2025 only declarations, refusals or “not found”; actions were recorded in 2023 (rescues by volunteers’ boats) and 2026 (drone delivery, evacuation of 32 people May 9–11, ceasefire Oct. 27).	Telegram: @realenua, UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, Deutsche Welle, LIGA.net
M1	entire period	Volume of data collected: 55,722 posts from 15,303 Telegram channels, 25,752 web materials and the English-language GDELT feed for Feb. 24, 2022 – Oct. 29, 2026. This is our own count.