The southern Ukrainian city of Oleshky has been largely cut off from fresh supplies of food and medicine for months, according to multiple accounts. Residents describe being trapped as the city decays before their eyes.

Under Russian occupation since the full-scale invasion, the city's remaining population of roughly 2,000 survives on pasta and tinned goods. Ludmilla, a resident who spoke to the BBC on condition of anonymity, said people have been forced to forage for food in abandoned homes.

Any attempt to leave Oleshky means risking one's life on the so-called 'Road of Death,' heavily mined and littered with burnt-out vehicles. Satellite imagery from November shows at least eight damaged vehicles on a 1km stretch of the road.

Ukraine's human rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinets has warned of a 'humanitarian crisis' and accused Russia of 'deliberate terrorism' against civilians. He has appealed for a humanitarian corridor for safe evacuations.

Russia's embassy in London blamed the 'humanitarian difficulties' on 'systematic strikes' by Ukrainian forces. The Russian-appointed governor of Kherson region, Vladimir Saldo, accused Ukraine of destroying schools and kindergartens, but did not mention the humanitarian situation in his Telegram posts.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it is in talks with both sides to gather more information. It remains unclear to what extent mines posing a risk to civilians were laid by Russian troops or Ukrainian drones.

While some residents wish to leave, many elderly Ukrainians are reluctant to abandon their homes. One resident described seeing a 90-year-old woman wave her hand at a hovering drone as if to say 'come what may' and hobble on.

Source: www.bbc.com