Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has drawn the international community’s attention to the severe deterioration of the humanitarian situation in certain areas of the occupied territories of Kherson region as a result of crimes committed by Russian forces, which grossly violate international humanitarian law.
This was stated in a declaration by the Foreign Ministry.
It noted that the situation in Oleshky, Hola Prystan, as well as Stara Zburivka and Nova Zburivka in Kherson region is of particular concern, as there are no proper conditions to meet the basic needs of local residents, including children. Russian forces are artificially blocking people from leaving and obstructing the supply of essential consumer goods, food, and medicines.
The population has declined from 40,000 to around 6,000 people, while in the city of Oleshky it has fallen from 24,000 to approximately 2,000.
Critical infrastructure has effectively been destroyed, and there is no electricity or gas supply. The settlements are on the brink of survival. Civilians attempting to buy food or leave the town using their own vehicles are becoming targets of Russian drone attacks.
Overall, more than 6,000 people may require humanitarian assistance, including around 200 children. Most of these people have limited mobility.
As of now, various state authorities have received more than 220 direct requests for the evacuation of residents from the mentioned settlements.
The relevant information has also been confirmed by the Office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Ukrainian intelligence agencies, and a number of international organizations.
“There are harrowing accounts of residents unable to bury loved ones due to relentless hostilities. Families are forced to survive in subhuman conditions without access to clean drinking water, food, or vital medical supplies. Russian forces are artificially blocking evacuations and obstructing the delivery of essential goods, food, and medicine.,” the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry stated.
In cooperation with the Coordination Headquarters for Evacuation Measures and Effective Response to Mass Population Displacement, the Foreign Ministry has begun urgent consultations with international partners — the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross — on ways to rescue Ukrainian citizens who have found themselves in dire circumstances because of the actions of Russian forces.
The Foreign Ministry, together with the relevant ministries and agencies, is also working to involve international organizations. It is calling on international partners to pressure Russia to comply with international humanitarian law and to create the necessary conditions and evacuation corridors for civilians to leave.
The Ukrainian side will also raise the issue of the critical humanitarian situation in Oleshky, Hola Prystan, Stara Zburivka, and Nova Zburivka at UN and OSCE platforms. Information about Russian crimes will be submitted to international monitoring missions.
