On October 10 at 14:00, the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War will host "Oleshky: Perspective from Within," a meeting with Volodymyr Kostian, a resident of Oleshky who made it out of the occupied city in the spring of 2026.
Last month, the media was flooded with news about the city of Oleshky, which has been under temporary Russian occupation since 2022 and is currently facing a humanitarian blockade and artificial famine.
According to the Oleshky City Military Administration, approximately 2,000 people remain in the city, including nearly 50 children. Oleshky has been without electricity, gas, and centralised water supply for a long time. Russian forces have completely blocked logistics and entry into the city. Residents currently have no access to food, clean water, medicine, and medical care, whilst attempts to flee on foot through the fields might turn lethal due to widespread minefields and Russian drone strikes.
The War Museum invites the public to meet Volodymyr Kostian, a resident of Oleshky. Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, he assisted the Ukrainian military, survived Russian captivity, endured torture, and spent over two years under the control of the occupation authorities. He only managed to leave the occupied city in the spring of 2026.
During the meeting, we will hear the story of the struggle for survival under occupation and will discuss who those who remain there are and why.
Moderator: Museum researcher Svitlana Demchenko.
Admission is free.
