On June 19, Rodion Miroshnik, Russia's special envoy for crimes committed by the Kyiv regime, told Tass that responsibility for the humanitarian disaster in the village of Alyoshky in Kherson Oblast lies with the Ukrainian armed forces and Western authorities.
Previously, pro-Ukraine media cited a statement from Ukraine’s Human Rights Ombudsman claiming that Kyiv had reportedly proposed a local ceasefire to allow for the evacuation of civilians from Alyoshky, as the situation in the area had "nearly reached a humanitarian catastrophe."
Alyoshky is a city on the left bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast, located just 5 kilometers from the city center of Kherson, making it a suburb of Kherson. It comprises the Alyoshky municipal hromada with a total area of 1,800 square kilometers. The town lies adjacent to the Aloyshki Sands National Park—the largest sandy desert in Europe—and features low-lying terrain characterized by swamps and river floodplains, with an elevation of only 6 meters, making it highly susceptible to flooding.
In 2022, Russian forces captured the left bank of Kherson, bringing Alyoshky under de facto Russian control; since then, Ukrainian forces have continuously shelled the town with artillery and drones. After the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station dam in 2023, 90% of the city was submerged by floods, cutting off water, gas, and road access completely. Over ten thousand residents were displaced, and numerous homes were permanently destroyed. Infrastructure has not yet been fully restored.
Currently, only about 2,000 permanent residents remain in Alyoshky. Main roads and hospitals continue to be targeted, entry and exit routes are littered with landmines, and supply vehicles have repeatedly triggered mines, resulting in casualties. Drinking water is supplied solely through shallow wells.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1868480554177548/
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