Ukraine says Russia is staging propaganda videos in besieged Oleshky to hide humanitarian crisis
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said on September 30 that Russia is preparing dozens of staged propaganda videos in the occupied city of Oleshky in Kherson Oblast, in which residents will be forced to say on camera that they are happy, well-fed, and grateful to the Russian occupiers. He described the videos as part of a multi-week Russian propaganda campaign denying a humanitarian catastrophe in the city, where about 2,000 people, including nearly 50 children, remain trapped without food, water, electricity, or the ability to evacuate. Sybiha called on the international community and humanitarian organizations to increase pressure on Moscow and demand immediate humanitarian access.
Key points
- September 30: Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said Russia is preparing dozens of staged propaganda videos in occupied Oleshky, citing Ukrainian intelligence.
- Residents will be forced to claim on camera they are happy, well-fed, and grateful to the Russian occupiers, according to Sybiha.
- Sybiha described the videos as part of a multi-week Russian propaganda campaign denying a humanitarian catastrophe in the city.
- About 2,000 people are trapped in Oleshky, including nearly 50 children, without food, water, electricity, or possibility to evacuate, according to Novynarnia.
- UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine: as of June 24, no food supplies had reached Oleshky since May 26.
- September 27: Kherson Oblast authorities and the Defense Forces delivered about 4,000 kg of food to 100 locations in Oleshky via drones, per Kherson Oblast head Oleksandr Prokudin.
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged a "critical situation" in Oleshky while claiming Ukrainian authorities are obstructing food supplies.
Why it matters
The statement ties information manipulation directly to an ongoing siege: Ukraine is alleging that Russia is producing forced on-camera statements to disguise a humanitarian crisis in which food, water, electricity, and medical care are cut off. Sybiha's call for international pressure and humanitarian access is the diplomatic lever Ukraine is using to push the Oleshky situation onto the agenda of international institutions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov's acknowledgment of a "critical situation" partially corroborates the underlying humanitarian problem even as Moscow tries to shift blame onto Kyiv. Ukraine's drone deliveries show an ongoing, if limited, effort to reach the blockaded population.
What happened
On September 30, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha posted on X that, according to Ukrainian intelligence, Russia is preparing to film dozens of staged propaganda videos in occupied Oleshky in Kherson Oblast. He said residents would be forced to declare on camera that they are happy, well-fed, and grateful to the Russian occupiers. Sybiha framed the planned videos as part of a multi-week Russian propaganda campaign denying that a humanitarian catastrophe exists in Oleshky and called on the international community and relevant international organizations to increase pressure on Moscow and demand immediate humanitarian access.
The alleged videos are the latest episode in a deteriorating situation that has persisted for months. According to Novynarnia, about 2,000 people, including nearly 50 children, are trapped in Oleshky without food, electricity, or water and have no possibility to evacuate. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reported that as of June 24, no food supplies had reached the city since May 26. On September 25, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O'Flaherty called for a local ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access, and safe evacuation of civilians. On September 27, Kherson Oblast authorities and Ukraine's Defense Forces delivered about 4,000 kg of food to 100 locations in Oleshky via drones, according to Kherson Oblast head Oleksandr Prokudin. Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said Ukraine has coordinated with the ICRC on evacuation and prepared lists of people needing to leave, and is considering scenarios including a one-day ceasefire for evacuation or a land corridor deeper into occupied territory.
In a separate development reported by Ukrainian sources, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged that a "critical situation" exists in Oleshky but claimed that Ukrainian authorities are obstructing food supplies to the city. Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation called that accusation a typical Russian propaganda tactic and said residents are effectively blockaded and lack access to food and medical assistance. Residents of Oleshky are also reportedly being forced to obtain Russian documents, participate in sham elections, and face Russian propaganda and youth recruitment into the Russian military. Investigative outlet Slidstvo.Info has identified Russian commanders it says are responsible for the humanitarian catastrophe in Oleshky.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
All seven supplied articles are Ukrainian sources and converge on a single narrative: Russia is blockading Oleshky and manufacturing staged propaganda to conceal a humanitarian catastrophe. They center Ukrainian official voices — Sybiha, Ombudsman Lubinets, Kherson Oblast head Oleksandr Prokudin, and the Center for Countering Disinformation — and emphasize Ukraine's own humanitarian drone operations and ICRC coordination as evidence of Kyiv's good-faith efforts. They highlight Russia's alleged tactics in detail, including forced on-camera statements, forced Russian passports, sham elections, and youth recruitment, and give prominent weight to Slidstvo.Info's identification of Russian commanders allegedly responsible for the humanitarian catastrophe. They contrast Peskov's acknowledgment of a "critical situation" with Russian attempts to blame Ukraine, framing the latter as a typical Russian propaganda technique.
Where reporting differs
Responsibility for the humanitarian situation in occupied Oleshky is contested: Ukrainian officials and the Center for Countering Disinformation say Russian forces are blockading the city and blocking humanitarian aid, while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claims Ukrainian authorities are obstructing food supplies to Oleshky. The characterization of the situation also differs: Sybiha and the Center for Countering Disinformation describe an ongoing humanitarian catastrophe, while Russia is running a propaganda campaign denying humanitarian problems there. Peskov's acknowledgment of a "critical situation" partially overlaps with Ukraine's account but is framed very differently.
Background
Oleshky is a city in Kherson Oblast occupied by Russian forces, from which civilian evacuation has been cut off and humanitarian aid blocked. According to Novynarnia, about 2,000 people are trapped in Oleshky, including nearly 50 children, without food, electricity, water, or possibility to evacuate. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reported that as of June 24, no food supplies had reached occupied Oleshky since May 26. On September 25, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O'Flaherty called for a local ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access, and safe evacuation of civilians in Oleshky. On September 27, Kherson Oblast authorities and Ukraine's Defense Forces delivered about 4,000 kg of food to 100 locations in Oleshky via drones, according to Kherson Oblast head Oleksandr Prokudin. Ukrainian Ombudsman Lubinets said Ukraine has coordinated with the ICRC on evacuation, has prepared evacuation lists, and is considering scenarios including a one-day ceasefire for evacuation or a land corridor deeper into occupied territory. Residents of Oleshky are reportedly being forced to take Russian passports, participate in sham elections, and are subject to propaganda and youth recruitment into the Russian military. Investigative outlet Slidstvo.Info has identified Russian commanders it says are involved in the humanitarian catastrophe in Oleshky.