EU calls situation in occupied Oleshky particularly alarming — Interia

The European Union has stated that the humanitarian situation in temporarily occupied Oleshky, Kherson Oblast, is particularly alarming. According to Ukrainian authorities, up to 6,000 civilians, including more than 180 children, remain in frontline communities in the occupied part of the oblast, including Oleshky.

This was reported by Interia, citing an EU statement dated October 1. The document, referring to data from the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission, says that residents of Oleshky and nearby settlements face acute shortages of food and medical care.

Evacuation and access to assistance

The EU noted that frequent drone attacks and the presence of landmines complicate the evacuation of people and access to essential goods and services. The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights has also collected testimonies about prolonged periods without electricity, water supply, heating, food, and medical care. According to these testimonies, Russian forces prevented residents from leaving Oleshky.

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Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the military administration of southern Kherson Oblast, told the Financial Times that during the latest operation, large drones delivered 4,000 kilograms of food overnight to about 100 locations in the besieged city. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that civilians are forced to survive by eating grass and weeds.

Statements by the occupation administration

The Russian Federation — an aggressor state and an occupying state — acknowledges the difficulty of the situation but places responsibility for the humanitarian crisis on Ukraine. Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-appointed head of the occupation administration of Kherson Oblast, said that the occupation authorities have the technical capabilities to provide people with what they need. His remarks also indicate that the occupation administration does not plan to evacuate the settlement.

Saldo also claimed that Kyiv had allegedly tried to blockade the city and obstructed the delivery of humanitarian aid. The source notes that these statements align with the Kremlin's propaganda rhetoric.