Ukrainian investigators have identified two Russian military units operating in occupied Oleshky, where residents face severe shortages and alleged abuse by soldiers.
Key facts
- •Slidstvo.Info reported the identification of the Russian units on September 29.
- •The 126th Separate Coastal Defense Brigade was formed in Crimea in 2014.
- •Colonel Oleg Morozov has commanded the 331st Guards Parachute Regiment since August 2025.
- •Oleksandr Tolokonnikov of the Kherson Regional Military Administration stated that Russian forces use residential areas to shield their artillery and mortar positions.
- •Tetiana Hasanenko reported that some residents attempting to flee through mined areas have failed to return.
The Ukrainian investigative outlet Slidstvo.Info has identified two Russian military units present in the occupied city of Oleshky in Kherson Oblast. These units, the 126th Separate Coastal Defense Brigade and the 331st Guards Parachute Regiment, are operating in an area where residents are enduring a severe humanitarian crisis marked by shortages of food, water, and medicine.
By the numbers
Military Units and Command
The 126th Separate Coastal Defense Brigade, currently commanded by Konstantin Kochetkov, is part of Russia's Dnieper grouping. The 331st Guards Parachute Regiment, which has seen combat in multiple Ukrainian regions since the start of the full-scale war, is currently commanded by Colonel Oleg Morozov, also known as "Kholod."
Conditions for Residents
According to the head of the Oleshky City Military Administration, Tetiana Hasanenko, approximately 1,500 to 2,000 civilians remain in the city, including up to 50 children. Residents who have escaped report that Russian soldiers are occupying civilian homes, demanding food and alcohol, and subjecting locals to threats and intimidation. Some escapees reported losing up to 15 kilograms due to hunger before fleeing. Ukrainian officials state that Russian forces are using civilians as "human shields" by positioning themselves in residential neighborhoods to deter Ukrainian strikes. Furthermore, the city is surrounded by minefields, which have reportedly prevented many residents from successfully evacuating on foot.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Kyiv Independent, Euromaidan Press.
