Russia Must Bear Full Responsibility For Creating Humanitarian Catastrophe In Oleshky — Sybiha

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Russia of creating a humanitarian catastrophe in the city of Oleshky, located in the Kherson region, on September 20. According to Sybiha, Russia is blocking access to food, medicine, and humanitarian aid, as well as preventing the evacuation of civilians. He emphasized the extreme criticality of the situation, noting that approximately 24,000 people lived in Oleshky before the war, but only around 2,000 individuals remain, including about 50 children.

The city has no electricity or gas, and deliveries of essential supplies have been halted. Reports indicate that people are resorting to scavenging for food and gathering grass to survive. Ukraine's International Committee of the Red Cross has confirmed its willingness to participate in the evacuation, while other international humanitarian organizations are prepared to provide life-saving assistance.

However, Russia is the sole obstacle to these efforts, deliberately impeding their progress. Sybiha stated that the only thing preventing aid from reaching those in need is Russia, which is using access to humanitarian aid as a means of pressure. He affirmed that Ukrainian diplomats will work towards mobilizing international pressure during the UN General Assembly's high-level week in New York, aiming to establish a humanitarian corridor and the safe evacuation of civilians.

Sybiha called on the international community to unite and overcome Russia's humanitarian blockade, ensuring immediate and unhindered access for humanitarian organizations and creating conditions for safe civilian evacuation. He emphasized that what is happening in Oleshky and other occupied settlements of Kherson is a deliberate act of Russian aggression, and Russia must bear full responsibility for creating this humanitarian catastrophe and its consequences.