A critical humanitarian situation has developed in occupied Oleshky in Kherson region. More than 6,000 people may still remain in the city and district, including around 200 children.
This was reported by Ukraine’s Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets.
According to him, the Ukrainian side had previously agreed with Russia to carry out a humanitarian mission to evacuate civilians. The International Committee of the Red Cross, which was ready to act in line with its mandate, was also expected to take part in the evacuation.
Ukraine approved the list of people who were to be evacuated from Oleshky and also worked with the Security and Defence Forces to ensure a ceasefire for the duration of the humanitarian mission.
“After the negotiations, the Russian side has for a long time failed to confirm its readiness to carry out a humanitarian mission to evacuate people,” Lubinets said.
He noted that his Office continues to collect and verify information about people in need of assistance, and is also communicating with the ICRC, international organisations and Ukrainian state bodies.
According to the Ombudsman, civilians in Oleshky remain under threat of shelling and drone attacks and do not have sufficient access to food, drinking water, medicines or other essential assistance.
Lubinets reported that he had received 176 appeals regarding the humanitarian situation in the temporarily occupied areas of Kherson region. At the same time, data on 358 people who urgently need help to leave the occupied territories safely have already been verified.
“And the most frightening thing is that people are already making their way out on their own through mined fields because they see no other way to escape,” the Ombudsman wrote.
According to him, people risk being blown up by mines or coming under drone strikes as they try to leave the city.
Lubinets also said that several months ago he informed a number of international organisations, including the UN and the ICRC headquarters in Geneva, about the critical situation in Oleshky and called for assistance to be provided to civilians.
- Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged international partners and relevant organisations to work together to ensure immediate humanitarian access to Oleshky and surrounding areas occupied by Russia and to establish humanitarian corridors.