Oleshky

Oleshky (Ukrainian: Олешки, pronounced [oˈlɛʃkɪ] ), previously known as Tsiurupynsk from 1928 to 2016, is a city in Kherson Raion, Kherson Oblast, southern Ukraine, located on the left bank of the Dnieper River with the town of Solontsi to the south. It is the oldest city of the oblast and one of the oldest in southern Ukraine. It is known for its proximity to the Oleshky Sands, a large desert region. Oleshky is the site of artist Polina Rayko's home, a national cultural monument of Ukraine. It also hosts the administration of Oleshky urban hromada, one of the hromadas of Ukraine. It had a population of 24,124 (2022 estimate). Oleshky has been occupied by Russia since 2022. The city’s population significantly declined as a result, with only around 2,000 people estimated to live in the city. It is currently suffering from a humanitarian crisis resulting in a famine, with the Russian administration providing support only to those who agreed to accept Russian citizenship.