Conditions in Oleshky
The International Committee of the Red Cross has stated it is prepared to assist in evacuating civilians from the occupied town of Oleshky and surrounding areas in the Kherson region. According to Ukraine's Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, the situation on the ground is dire: more than six thousand people—including roughly 200 children—have been cut off from water, food, and medical care.
Oleshky’s population has plummeted from 24,000 to around 2,000 residents. Across the affected settlements—including Hola Prystan, Stara Zburivka, and Nova Zburivka—the total number of inhabitants has dropped from approximately 40,000 to about 6,000. Russian occupying forces are blocking people from leaving and preventing the delivery of food and medicine, worsening an already severe humanitarian crisis.
Calls for Evacuation
Lubinets has formally appealed to the ICRC and to the Russian human rights ombudsman, demanding that an evacuation be arranged. A consolidated list of individuals in need of assistance and evacuation has been submitted to the ICRC.
“Work is currently underway with all relevant parties to establish safe evacuation routes. Once decisions are coordinated, concrete steps will be taken to move civilians who require evacuation,” Lubinets stated.
The situation in Oleshky is alarming: access roads are mined, and residents are dying of starvation. The ICRC is prepared to take action to help civilians trapped in the area who urgently need to be evacuated.
This humanitarian disaster in the Kherson region highlights the severe impact of war on civilians, who are suffering from a lack of basic necessities. As conditions remain critical, urgent calls for international assistance and support in carrying out evacuations grow louder. Evacuation operations could prove vital in addressing the humanitarian needs of those affected.
As the humanitarian situation in Oleshky becomes increasingly dire, reports indicate that civilians are facing starvation, with children among the most vulnerable victims. For a deeper understanding of the ongoing crisis and the heartbreaking realities faced by those trapped in this conflict, see our detailed coverage on the plight of residents enduring severe conditions in Oleshky's humanitarian blockade.