‘None of the Aid Reached the People’ – Russian Occupation Authorities Deny Civilians Humanitarian Aid in Oleshky

Around 1,300 civilians are currently trapped in Russian-occupied Oleshky, situated in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region, according to regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin. Prokudin claimed that humanitarian aid intended for these civilians was never delivered to them and was instead stored in a warehouse. He stated that no humanitarian aid reached the people, and residents were told the supplies were not for them. Prokudin added that some individuals receiving assistance only got a week's worth of food.

The aid crisis extends to settlements along the Russian-occupied eastern bank of the Dnipro River, where 34 villages face critical conditions, and 58 are in a moderate state of emergency. These communities are grappling with severe shortages of electricity, gas, water, and food deliveries. Ukrainian authorities have reportedly managed to deliver humanitarian assistance via drone, despite the challenges of accessing Russian-controlled territory.

However, international donors like the World Food Programme did not participate due to the inability to verify if the aid reached its intended recipients.

As Ukraine endeavors to organize a second evacuation from Oleshky, Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets revealed that more residents requested evacuation following the successful first operation. The next mission will necessitate fresh security arrangements and humanitarian access agreements. The initial operation, backed by First Lady Melania Trump, facilitated the evacuation of hundreds of civilians from Russian-occupied territory.

Nonetheless, Ukrainian officials expressed concerns that Russian forces utilized the ceasefire to reinforce their military positions and move equipment closer to the frontlines.