Tearful reunions as Ukrainians return from Russian-occupied Oleshky

Updated: 5 November 2026 - 9:26 GMT+1 Residents of the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky have returned to Ukrainian-controlled territory, where they were welcomed by volunteers and reunited with family members. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Those arriving describe increasingly desperate conditions, with food shortages, soaring prices and regular shelling making everyday life increasingly difficult. Food has become increasingly scarce and prohibitively expensive. A former resident says some people resorted to preserving grass because they had nothing else to eat. Another evacuee describes prices at informal markets, where even basic vegetables had become unaffordable. The shortages were so severe that some residents had to eat whatever they could find. A 70-year-old man describes how people survived on weeds, wheat and food originally intended for chickens. For those who have made it back, the relief of reuniting with loved ones comes with the pain of leaving their homes behind.