Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged international partners to act on the worsening humanitarian crisis in Russian-occupied Oleshky, Kherson Oblast. He stated on September 25 that civilians are facing severe shortages of food, medicine, and clean water, with children also trapped in dire conditions.
The dire humanitarian conditions in Oleshky highlight the severe impact of the ongoing conflict on civilian populations and underscore the challenges in delivering aid to occupied territories, potentially leading to increased international pressure on Russia.
The critical humanitarian situation in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in Ukraine's Kherson Oblast continues to deteriorate, with Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urging international partners to intervene. Sybiha stated on September 25 that civilians are facing extreme shortages of food, medicine, clean water, electricity, and medical care, with reports indicating some are resorting to eating grass and weeds.
Children are also trapped in these dire conditions. Oleshky, located on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River, has been under Russian occupation since February 24, 2022. Russian forces are reportedly preventing both Ukrainian authorities and international humanitarian organizations from delivering aid or facilitating evacuations.
According to Ukraine's Foreign Ministry, the town's population has significantly decreased from approximately 24,000 to around 2,000 by spring 2026. Sybiha has placed responsibility for the crisis on Russia and called on the international community, including the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross, to utilize all available mechanisms to ensure unhindered humanitarian access and facilitate the evacuation of residents.
On the same day, Michael O'Flaherty, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, also voiced concerns about the worsening humanitarian situation in Oleshky, highlighting the serious risk to civilians' lives and reminding occupying authorities of their obligations under international humanitarian law to ensure access to essential supplies.
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