News from occupied Ukraine: Oleshky crisis continues, Europe's human rights chief calls for 'immediate local ceasefire'

Live updates

1. 1h ago

   Oleshky Crisis Deepens Under Occupation

   The Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in southern Ukraine faces a critical humanitarian emergency as food deliveries completely stop and safe civilian evacuation remains nearly impossible. Remaining residents ration strict supplies, consume garden weeds and grass to survive, and suffer under constant attacks and a chronic shortage of medication. Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner Michael O'Flaherty warned of the alarming and rapidly worsening conditions, demanding an immediate local ceasefire, unfettered humanitarian access, and safe corridors to evacuate trapped citizens.

   Why it matters

   The town has experienced intense isolation and a complete blockade under Russian control, compounding the severe human toll of the ongoing conflict in southern Ukraine. Control of information by the Kremlin tightens the difficulties faced by Ukrainian citizens living under occupation. International officials and Ukrainian authorities continue sounding alarms as the crisis threatens the lives of remaining residents.

   What is confirmed

   • Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O'Flaherty warned that the humanitarian situation in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky is deteriorating rapidly and called for humanitarian access and the safe evacuation of civilians.
   • Residents in the occupied town of Oleshky are eating garden weeds and grass to survive due to a complete halt in food deliveries and a total blockade.
   • Residents in Oleshky face careful rationing of remaining food supplies, a chronic shortage of medication, and constant attacks.
   • Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged international partners to act on the humanitarian crisis in Oleshky.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Locals have been forced to hide bodies in a hospital basement.

   What to watch next

   • Implementation of an immediate local ceasefire or humanitarian corridor in Oleshky
   • Permitting international organizations access to deliver food and medicine to trapped residents
   • Evacuation progress for civilians fleeing the Russian blockade in southern Ukraine
   Sources used for this update (15)

   1. BBC — Oleshky: Eating garden weeds to survive in Russian-occupied city cut off from food and water
   2. ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos — ‘The blockade is complete’: Locals flee occupied south Ukraine as hunger deepens
   3. abcnews.com — 'Like a horror movie': Ukraine's Oleshky faces 'catastrophe' under Russian occupation
   4. The Kyiv Independent — 'Nothing left to eat' —Sybiha urges partners to act on Oleshky humanitarian crisis
   5. Українська правда — Ukraine sounds alarm over situation in Oleshky, where people are eating grass due to hunger
   6. The Kyiv Independent — News from occupied Ukraine: Oleshky crisis continues, Europe's human rights chief calls for 'immediate local ceasefire'
   7. Ukrinform — Cases of people starving to death reported in occupied Oleshky — journalist
   8. kyivindependent.com — General Staff: Russia has lost 1,528,970 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
   9. theguardian.com — ‘Hell on earth’: last residents eat weeds to survive in Russian-occupied Oleshky
   10. Українська правда — Oleshky under siege: a city where people eat grass, hide bodies in a hospital basement and wait for an evacua
   11. Meduza — A humanitarian crisis is gripping Russian-occupied Oleshky as food deliveries stop and safe evacuation becomes nearly impossible
   12. kyivindependent.com — News from occupied Ukraine: Oleshky crisis continues, Europe's human rights chief calls for 'immediate lo....
   confidence 95%