More than 1,000 residents have chosen to stay in the frontline town of Alyoshki, Kherson Region, Russia, despite years of shelling, drone attacks, and severe shortages.
Many of those remaining are elderly. Some wanted to evacuate but feared they would be turned away after losing their identity documents when their homes were destroyed. Others refuse to leave behind their pets and livestock, even as they struggle to find enough food.
“Despite what they’ve been through — the shortages, the violence, the bombing — most of them… a little over a thousand, are choosing to stay,” said Murad Gazdiev.
The humanitarian mission has delivered essential supplies and assisted with evacuations under a temporary ceasefire between Moscow and Kiev. The operation is coordinated with the involvement of US First Lady Melania Trump, and Russian and Ukrainian human rights commissioners are overseeing it.
