The All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organisations has reported a critical humanitarian situation in temporarily occupied Oleshky in the Kherson region. More than 6,000 people may still be in the city and its surrounding areas, including around 200 children.
This is stated in an appeal by the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organisations.
The Council of Churches notes that the last deliveries of food to Oleshky were at the end of May 2026. Residents are left without sufficient food, drinking water, medicines and other essential assistance.
"The city of Oleshky, located in Ukrainian territory temporarily occupied by Russian troops, is under a humanitarian blockade and is on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe," the appeal says.
According to the organisation, Russian troops are preventing residents from leaving the city.
Oleshky is located close to the front line. People who remain in the city are under constant threat of shelling and drone attacks. Critical infrastructure has effectively been destroyed, and there is no electricity or gas supply.
The Council of Churches also recalled that in 2023 Oleshky suffered severe flooding after Russian troops blew up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant dam.
The organisation appealed to Pope Leo XIV, the World Council of Churches, the World Evangelical Alliance, other religious leaders and human rights organisations, urging them to use every possible means to help the city’s residents.
In addition, the Council of Churches called on UN member states and the International Committee of the Red Cross to facilitate a humanitarian mission and the evacuation of Oleshky residents to territory controlled by Ukraine.
The Council stresses that the Ukrainian side has repeatedly informed international organisations about the situation in the city and has tried to reach an agreement on the evacuation of civilians.
- Earlier, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets said that after talks Russia has for a long time failed to confirm its readiness to carry out a humanitarian mission to evacuate people