‘We Came Back from Hell’: Ukrainians Escape Russian-Occupied Oleshky

An evacuated Ukrainian couple has recounted their escape from the Russian-occupied front-line city of Oleshky, telling BBC News they “came back from hell” after years under occupation. The couple said they were forced to cross minefields in search of food, underscoring the dire humanitarian situation in areas seized by Russian forces.

The couple’s testimony is among the first direct accounts from Oleshky, a city in the Kherson region that has been under Russian control since the early days of the full-scale invasion. Residents have faced severe shortages of food, water, and medicine, while movement has been restricted and many have fled. The BBC report did not specify the couple’s names or the exact date of their escape.

Their story highlights the ongoing risks faced by civilians in occupied territories and the challenges of evacuation. International humanitarian organizations have repeatedly called for safe passage and access to affected populations. The couple’s account adds to growing evidence of hardship in Russian-held areas, as Ukraine continues to urge allies to support evacuation efforts and pressure Moscow to allow aid deliveries.