Residents of Kyiv called on the Vatican to help the residents of Oleshky
On October 6, a peaceful demonstration was held in Kyiv in support of the residents of the occupied town of Oleshky in the Kherson region. The participants gathered near the diplomatic mission of the Holy See and called on the Vatican to help secure a humanitarian corridor and the safe evacuation of civilians.
On the evening of October 6, people gathered near the Holy See’s diplomatic mission in Kyiv to draw attention to the situation in the occupied town of Oleshky. The town, located on the left bank of the Dnipro River, has effectively been cut off. According to reports from Ukrainian authorities and international representatives, residents are facing difficulties accessing food, water, medicine, and other essential aid.
The protesters appealed to the Holy See to help secure a humanitarian corridor for the town. This involves not only the delivery of aid but also the safe evacuation of civilians who wish to leave Oleshky. “Today we are holding a peaceful protest outside the Vatican’s diplomatic mission in Ukraine to remind the international community and ask the Holy See to call for a humanitarian corridor,” Arkady Petrosyan, chairman of the Association of Young Lawyers of Ukraine, told Glavkom.
According to him, people in Oleshky have effectively been left without adequate access to basic necessities. At the same time, it is very difficult to obtain information directly from the city. Communication with locals is maintained through people in Kherson, who sometimes manage to speak with their relatives. “People there are facing problems with food and medicine; there is a general problem with human rights and basic needs,” Petrosyan said.
“I have to do something, at least”
The rally was attended not only by people who have relatives or acquaintances in Oleshky. Some participants admitted that they simply could not stand by and do nothing. One of them, Vladislav, explained that he isn’t originally from Oleshky and has no relatives there. But he considers the situation in the city a tragedy that the world needs to know about. “I’m not from there; I don’t have any relatives there. It’s just a huge catastrophe to me—not only for Ukraine, but for all of humanity, for the whole world. We see the atrocities the Russians are committing,” he said.
When asked why it was important for him to attend the rally, the man replied: “I feel like I have to do something. Whatever is within my power, that’s what I’m doing. That’s why I’m here, just like everyone else.”
Among the participants was Olena. She emphasized that there are still Ukrainians in the occupied city who must not be forgotten. “Our Ukrainians, our people, are still there. A repeat of the Holodomor of ’33 is unacceptable. I believe I need to be here so that at least international organizations will take notice,” the woman said.
In her opinion, the Vatican could play a special role in efforts to help civilians. “The Pope says he knows how to negotiate. Let him negotiate with the occupiers to deliver food and supplies to our people,” Olena added.
A journalist called for the creation of a corridor
American videojournalist Corry Nieto also joined the campaign. He has lived in Ukraine for over ten years and works for English-language Ukrainian media outlets. Nieto called the situation in Oleshky a tragedy. He also drew attention to the danger faced by people trying to leave the city on their own. “You see these drone videos where people are trying to leave and are being attacked. There needs to be a humanitarian corridor. We need to ensure that Russia does not attack people trying to leave,” the journalist emphasized.
Earlier, civilians did indeed attempt to leave Oleshky. On October 3, dozens of people set out from the city—on foot, by bicycle, and on mopeds. However, it was unclear whether they were able to reach their destination safely.
What’s Happening in Oleshky
Oleshky has been under Russian occupation since 2022. The city is located on the left bank of the Dnipro River, across from Kherson. In September, the situation there deteriorated sharply. Fewer and fewer food supplies were reaching the city, and access to water, electricity, medicine, and other aid became critically limited. Ukrainian authorities declared that the city was effectively under blockade.
The European Commission also stated that civilians in Oleshky were under siege by Russian troops and lacked adequate access to food, medicine, clean water, and basic aid. The Ukrainian side has repeatedly called on international organizations to secure humanitarian access to the city and ensure the safe evacuation of civilians.
According to information from the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches, cited by Ukrainian officials, thousands of people, including children, may still be in Oleshky and the surrounding area. At the same time, it is difficult to determine the exact number of civilians currently in the city due to the occupation and communication problems.
Ukraine Delivers Aid via Drones
Despite the difficult situation, Ukraine is already conducting operations to deliver aid to the residents of Oleshky using heavy drones. In late September, the Ukrainian military delivered about four metric tons of food to the city. The aid was distributed to approximately 100 designated locations.
Another operation took place on October 4. This time, the military delivered nearly 400 packages with a total weight of about four metric tons. Units of the National Guard, the Marine Corps, and border guards participated in the operation. Ukrainian military officials reported that Russian forces are attempting to obstruct the delivery of aid. According to the Ukrainian side, the occupiers are shooting down some of the drones carrying cargo and may be confiscating the aid received.
During one such operation, the military managed to accomplish another important task—evacuating six cats from the occupied town of Oleshky. The animals were transported across the Dnipro River using a drone. At the same time, delivering food via drones does not solve the main problem—people in the occupied city need a safe way to leave.
That is why participants in the rally in Kyiv called on the Vatican and other international organizations to join the search for a solution. They want civilians in Oleshky to have the opportunity to receive the necessary aid and leave the city without risking their lives.
Servicemen of the Ukrainian National Guard, in coordination with other units of the Defense Forces, carried out a second successful operation to deliver nearly four metric tons of humanitarian aid to residents of Oleshky using drones.
The Ukrainian military used drones to deliver about 4 metric tons of food to residents of occupied Oleshky. The humanitarian aid was distributed among 100 designated locations throughout the city.
