Ukraine delivers aid by drone to occupied Oleshky in second operation

Key facts

• Ukraine's military used heavy-lift drones to deliver nearly 4 metric tons of food and medicine to Oleshky on Oct. 4.
• The aid included food, medical supplies, and kits for children.
• This was the second large-scale drone delivery to Oleshky, where residents face severe shortages.
• Russia has obstructed previous aid deliveries and questioned residents over potential cooperation with Ukraine.
• Over 50 countries and organizations have signed a pledge calling for the return of abducted Ukrainian children.

Ukrainian forces conducted a second large-scale drone operation on Oct. 4, delivering nearly four metric tons of humanitarian aid to the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in southern Ukraine. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated on X that the delivery consisted of nearly 400 packages containing food and medicine.

Oleshky, a frontline town on the Dnipro River, has been under Russian occupation since 2022. Sybiha noted that Russia had been attempting to isolate Ukrainians in Oleshky and obstructing aid deliveries to people facing severe shortages. This operation follows a similar delivery of food and medicines at the end of September.

Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets previously told Ukrainian media that Russia had not agreed to Ukrainian proposals for civilian evacuations from Oleshky. The Kremlin acknowledged critical problems with food and medicine supplies in Oleshky but stated that Russia's military was working to resolve them.

In separate developments, Ukrainian forces struck Russian military targets in occupied Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Luhansk oblasts. Additionally, 41 Ukrainian civilians, including children, were returned from occupied territories through a Volyn border crossing in August and September. Over 50 countries and organizations have signed a pledge calling for the return of abducted Ukrainian children, and the UK has sanctioned seven Russians over their involvement in the deportation and indoctrination of these children.