About 7.5 thousand people live in Ochakiv: this is half the number before the war

Ochakiv, Mykolaiv region, pre-war, archive photo NikVesti

As of October, about 7,500 people live in Ochakiv. This is half of the pre-war population.

This is described in the article NikVesti «The enemy is 3.5 km away. Ochakiv, a Resort Turned Frontline Town».

«The number of people in our town has been changing for four years, but based on the distribution of humanitarian aid, we have about the same number of adults and children,» said Ochakiv Mayor Serhii Bychkov.

Ochakiv is shelled every day. «All types of weapons were tested on us», says Deputy Mayor Oleksii Vaskov. The Russian military is now launching FPV drones and reconnaissance aircraft at the city every day, firing artillery and attacking with various types of missiles. It is through Ochakiv that most of the Shaheds that Russia is firing at Ukraine are flying.

«It is impossible to get used to this. We're all nervous here, we don't sleep well at night. But where can we go? This is our home,» says resident Tetiana about life in Ochakiv.

As of October 2025, 70% of buildings in Ochakiv were destroyed or damaged: private houses, multi-storey buildings and infrastructure.