Ukraine ombudsman releases video of civilians fleeing occupied Oleshky on foot, bicycles

October 3, 2026 at 06:05 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Ukraine's human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets released video showing dozens of civilians leaving Russian-occupied Oleshky in Kherson region on foot, bicycles, and mopeds. Residents are fleeing shortages of food, water, and medicine amid mined roads and blocked evacuation corridors. Lubinets called the situation genocide and a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

Key Facts

Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, published the video on his Telegram page.
Dozens of residents are leaving Oleshky on foot, bicycles, and mopeds, some to find food for themselves and their families.
Oleshky lacks food, clean water, and medicine, and roads may be mined, according to Lubinets.
The European Union has called for humanitarian access to Oleshky and safe passage for civilians.
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reported no food deliveries to Oleshky since May 26.

The Video

Lubinets published the footage on his Telegram page, showing the current situation in Oleshky. The video depicts dozens of people leaving the city on their own, some on bicycles, some on mopeds, and some walking. Many are leaving to find and buy food for themselves and their loved ones. They travel without proper transport, without a safe route, and without any guarantee of reaching their destination.

Humanitarian Crisis

Lubinets said residents of Oleshky are forced to choose between starvation and the risk of being blown up by a mine. The city has been left without food, clean water, and medicine, according to the ombudsman. Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, said Russian forces are holding around 2,000 people in Oleshky, including nearly 50 children. Prokudin added that residents have been left without food, electricity, or water.

International Response

The European Union recently stated the need for humanitarian access to Oleshky and the possibility for civilians to leave safely. Lubinets said people need more than statements; they need a safe corridor, assistance, and a chance to survive. Russia has blocked the evacuation of civilians from occupied Oleshky and rejected Ukraine's proposals, according to Lubinets.