Nearly 23 kilometers on foot: a family with a child fled occupied Oleshky

In September, a family from Kherson managed to leave occupied Oleshky on foot. To get out of the city, they had to cover around 23 kilometers along a dangerous route.

Vitalii, his wife, and their 13-year-old son decided to flee the occupation. The family tried to reach safety despite the threats along the way.

Russian drones flew overhead, and part of the route crossed areas where there might be mines. They had to watch out for both dangers: during the journey, every step could cost them their lives.

We previously reported:

• Hunger drives people from their homes, while mines litter the roads: residents of Oleshky make their way out without an evacuation
• “They made even children undress in the middle of a field”: A Kherson region resident recounts leaving the occupation
• “You’re looking for weapons in a woman’s underwear?”: A pensioner who fled to Mykolaiv speaks of abuse by the occupiers
• Two families fleeing Kherson hit a mine. A woman was killed and two children injured
• “Don’t fall for provocations!”: Refugees from Kramatorsk who lived in Korabelnyi address Mykolaiv residents