Dire Humanitarian Conditions in Oleshky
Ukraine has requested an urgent session of the OSCE Permanent Council on October 1 to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in Oleshky, a city under Russian occupation in the Kherson region. The Ukrainian delegation aims to update OSCE member states on the severe hardships caused by the Russian occupation authorities, which have led to a dramatic population decline and critical shortages of essential supplies.
Once home to 24,000 residents before the invasion, Oleshky's population has plummeted to approximately 2,000. The broader community’s numbers have dropped from 40,000 to around 6,000. Russian forces are restricting civilian movement and obstructing the delivery of vital goods such as food, medicine, and other everyday necessities. Innocent civilians, including children, face extreme scarcity of food, clean water, electricity, and medical care.
International Appeals for Humanitarian Intervention
Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Andriy Sybiga, announced ongoing negotiations to urgently evacuate civilians from temporarily occupied towns in Kherson Oblast, including Oleshky, Hola Prystan, Stara and Nova Zburivka. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Human Rights Commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets, highlighted Russia's prolonged refusal to confirm its willingness to facilitate a humanitarian evacuation mission from Oleshky.
“The Ukrainian delegation will inform OSCE member states about the horrific conditions created by the Russian occupation, which effectively holds civilians, especially children, hostage. This is a man-made humanitarian disaster.”
Andriy Sybiga
He also urged the international community: “I call on the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship and all member states to condemn the aggressor and intensify pressure on Russia. Immediate humanitarian aid is desperately needed in Oleshky. Russia must be compelled to provide it without delay.”
The All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations has also appealed to Pope Leo XIV and international bodies to assist in delivering humanitarian aid and facilitating the evacuation of Oleshky’s residents. Current efforts include:
- Discussion of the issue at the OSCE Permanent Council on October 1;
- Negotiations focused on the urgent evacuation of civilians;
- Calls for international organizations to ensure humanitarian access and evacuation routes.
The crisis in Oleshky highlights the broader humanitarian fallout from ongoing military conflict, severely impacting civilians caught in occupied territories. Ukraine’s delegation strives to draw global attention to the urgent needs of these vulnerable populations and push for swift international action. The OSCE forum could prove pivotal in mobilizing the support required to alleviate suffering and restore basic living conditions for residents in this embattled region.
As the situation in Oleshky deteriorates, the plight of the over 6,000 individuals trapped in the city becomes increasingly urgent. For a deeper understanding of the severe humanitarian challenges they face, including a lack of food, water, and medical supplies, explore our detailed report on the ongoing crisis impacting the local population.