Protest in Tokyo
The Ukrainian community in Tokyo staged a powerful demonstration featuring empty plates filled with grass and leaves to draw international attention to the severe humanitarian emergency unfolding in Oleksky, a town currently under temporary occupation in the Kherson region. Nearly 2,000 residents remain trapped without sufficient food, medicine, clean water, or electricity, including vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly. Activists displayed signs in Japanese to inform the public about the worsening conditions faced by civilians in Oleksky.
Similar awareness campaigns have taken place in cities like Warsaw, Vienna, Milan, and Vancouver. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga emphasized the gravity of the situation, urging organizations such as the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to guarantee humanitarian access and ensure the safe evacuation of those affected.
'Civilians, especially children, are deprived of adequate food, medicine, clean water, electricity, and medical support. He called on the UN, ICRC, and other international bodies to facilitate humanitarian aid and secure the evacuation of people.' Andriy Sybiga
Current Conditions in Oleksky
Since the full-scale invasion began in April 2026, Oleksky has been under occupation. The humanitarian situation has deteriorated sharply since spring 2026 due to shortages of essential supplies and restricted movement, with Russia blocking passage to Ukrainian-controlled areas. Dmitro Lubinets, Ukraine's Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, reported that Russia has not confirmed any plans to organize civilian evacuations from Oleksky. In response, Ukraine has called for an urgent review of the humanitarian crisis in Oleksky at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
On October 4, 2026, the 11th Separate Guard Brigade named after Mykhailo Hrushevskyi and the 34th Kherson Regiment of the National Guard of Ukraine successfully delivered a humanitarian convoy to Oleksky for the second time. The dire circumstances in this region demand immediate international intervention, as residents continue to suffer from the lack of basic life-sustaining resources.
The humanitarian emergency in Oleksky starkly illustrates the devastating impact of war on civilians in Ukraine. Worldwide protests underscore global solidarity with the Ukrainian people and call for urgent measures to alleviate the hardships of those trapped in conflict zones. The OSCE's involvement and appeals to international organizations aim to spotlight the critical needs of populations cut off from aid amid ongoing hostilities.
The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Oleksky has prompted urgent calls for international intervention. In light of the dire circumstances, Ukraine has initiated a request for an immediate meeting with the OSCE to address the situation in the Russian-occupied region. For more details on the international response and efforts to alleviate the suffering of civilians, read about the urgent OSCE meeting regarding the humanitarian emergency.