Russian troops are blocking civilians from leaving occupied Oleshky in Kherson region, says Anastasia Shevchenko, spokeswoman for Ukraine's "South" military group. People cannot get out of the town, the roads out are mined, and aid convoys carrying food, water and medicine are turned back.

Russian FPV drones patrol the streets and chase people off, Shevchenko says, adding that this puts residents at even greater risk.

"Every day matters for saving the people who are starving and dying there," she said.

The "South" group warns Russia may be preparing a series of propaganda videos. In one scenario, local residents would be forced to say on camera that they are "happy, well-fed and grateful to the Russian occupiers." In the other, occupying forces would pass off aid brought in by Ukrainian troops as their own.

Ukrainian drone operators earlier ran a humanitarian operation to fly aid into Oleshky. Over 142 flights, they dropped about 4 tons of supplies on the town. Crews from the 34th separate marine brigade, the 11th National Guard brigade "Bolharychi" and other units of the 30th marine corps took part.

About 2,000 people remain in Oleshky, including around 50 children. Russia occupied the town after launching its full-scale war on Ukraine on 24 February 2022. Before the war, Oleshky had about 24,000 residents.