Humanitarian Relief Reaches Occupied Oleshky
On a second mission, Ukrainian forces successfully transported close to 4 tons of aid—including food, medicine, and children's supplies—to the occupied town of Oleshky using drones. This complex operation involved the coordinated efforts of the 11th National Guard Brigade, the 34th Kherson Regiment, the 30th Marine Corps, the 34th Separate Marine Brigade "Borysfen," and the 79th Border Detachment. Ukrainian Interior Minister Ivan Vyhivskyi announced the operation on his official Telegram channel.
The humanitarian cargo consisted of:
- Food supplies
- Medical provisions
- Children’s kits
All nearly 400 packages reached Oleshky successfully. Vyhivskyi expressed gratitude to everyone involved, highlighting the efforts of the Perun UAV crew who not only delivered aid but also rescued six animals from the occupied area during the mission.
“Thank you to all who took part in this operation: those who delivered, provided cover, engineering support, and logistics. Special recognition goes to the Perun drone crew who, in addition to delivering supplies, saved six animals from the occupied territory,” Vyhivskyi stated.
Urgent Humanitarian Crisis in Oleshky
The humanitarian situation in Oleshky remains dire. According to Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiga, civilians—including children—are facing severe shortages of food, medicine, clean water, electricity, and medical care.
“The humanitarian conditions in temporarily occupied Oleshky, Kherson region, are critical. Civilians, especially children, lack sufficient food, medicine, clean water, electricity, and medical assistance. I urge the UN, ICRC, and other international organizations to ensure humanitarian access and safe evacuation,” Sybiga emphasized.
Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, also reported that Russia has not confirmed its willingness to facilitate civilian evacuation from Oleshky. Ukraine has called for an urgent review of the humanitarian situation in Oleshky at the OSCE Permanent Council meeting. Meanwhile, the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations has appealed to Pope Leo XIV to help coordinate humanitarian aid and evacuation efforts for Oleshky residents.
This aid delivery underscores the severity of the crisis in Oleshky, where civilians endure critical shortages of essential resources. The ongoing lack of adequate international support threatens the lives of local inhabitants. Appeals from Ukrainian officials and religious groups to global institutions highlight the urgent need for safe humanitarian access and evacuation. Monitoring forthcoming international responses will be crucial in addressing the region's humanitarian emergency.
In light of the ongoing humanitarian challenges faced by civilians in Oleshky, it's crucial to recognize the broader context of the crisis. Recently, forty-one individuals, including children and teenagers, successfully returned from occupied territories through the Mokrany–Domanove checkpoint. This highlights the urgent need for continued humanitarian efforts and safe passage for those affected by the conflict.