Ukrainian military units used drones to deliver approximately 4,000 kilograms of food to 100 designated locations across the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in Kherson Oblast on Saturday night.

The operation, described by regional authorities as one of the largest of its kind, involved coordinated efforts from multiple units including the 30th Marine Corps, the Hrom tactical group, the 34th Borysfen Separate Marine Brigade, the 11th National Guard Brigade, the 34th National Guard Regiment, and the 79th Border Guard Detachment.

Oleshky, located just across the Dnipro River from Ukrainian-controlled areas, has been under Russian occupation since 2022. Ukrainian officials estimate around 2,000 civilians remain in the town, including nearly 50 children. Residents face severe shortages of food, water, electricity, and medical care due to a Russian blockade.

Ukrainian forces have conducted similar drone deliveries to Oleshky since March, flying supplies across the river. Russian forces have repeatedly attempted to disrupt these efforts by shooting down aid-carrying drones, confiscating or reselling the provisions, and detaining local residents who receive the packages.

Kherson Regional Military Administration head Oleksandr Prokudin stated that the Russians are holding the remaining residents "hostage" without basic necessities. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has described the situation as a "full blockade," with reports of residents resorting to foraging for weeds amid the crisis.

This latest airdrop highlights Ukraine's innovative use of unmanned aerial vehicles for humanitarian purposes in contested areas where traditional supply routes are blocked. The deliveries provide critical relief to civilians trapped in occupied territory under harsh conditions imposed by Russian forces.