Humanitarian Crisis Intensifies in Oleshky
Despite ongoing negotiations led by Ukrainian authorities and international organizations, Russia has yet to authorize a humanitarian operation to evacuate civilians trapped in Oleshky. The town remains caught in a dangerous gray zone, where residents struggle without essential aid. Many have been forced to navigate mined fields alone, risking their lives to escape the deteriorating conditions.
Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, reports that civilians in Oleshky face persistent threats from shelling and drone strikes, lacking access to food, clean water, medicine, and other vital supplies. Although evacuation protocols have been agreed upon with Russian representatives, implementation remains stalled. The International Committee of the Red Cross has expressed readiness to assist in the evacuation under its mandate.
Urgent Appeals and Population Needs
Lubinets has received 176 humanitarian requests from the temporarily occupied Kherson region and has identified 358 individuals in urgent need of assistance to evacuate safely. He estimates that over 6,000 people, including approximately 200 children, still remain in Oleshky and its surrounding district.
'We have verified 358 people who desperately require help to leave these dangerous areas safely, and these are only those we have been able to reach. Based on the population figures of Oleshky and its district, more than 6,000 people remain, including nearly 200 children. What is most alarming is that many are forced to cross minefields on their own because they see no other way out of this nightmare. They risk landmines and drone attacks but feel that staying is an even worse fate,' said Dmytro Lubinets.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called on the international community to recognize the worsening humanitarian situation across the occupied parts of Kherson Oblast. Particular attention is drawn to Oleshky, Hola Prystan, Stara Zburivka, and Nova Zburivka, where residents face severe shortages and lack basic living conditions. Russian forces continue to block civilian movement and restrict the delivery of food and medical supplies.
- The population of Oleshky has plummeted from 24,000 to roughly 2,000 people.
- The wider district’s population has decreased from 40,000 to about 6,000 residents.
These figures reflect the devastating impact of prolonged conflict, which has resulted in a humanitarian catastrophe in Oleshky and neighboring areas. Russian military blockades hinder aid efforts, placing civilians—especially children—in grave danger. The success of ongoing efforts by Ukrainian authorities and international agencies to secure humanitarian evacuations is critical, as the risks to those trapped continue to escalate daily.