Ukraine warns of humanitarian disaster in occupied Kherson region
Photo: Russian soldier (Getty Images)
Russia has created a humanitarian catastrophe in the towns of Oleshky, Hola Prystan, Stara Zburivka, and Nova Zburivka in the Kherson region. Residents are trapped without electricity or food while facing constant drone attacks, according to Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry.
There are effectively no living conditions left in these settlements. Electricity and gas supplies are cut off, and local infrastructure has been destroyed.
The population in the occupied communities has fallen from around 40,000 people to just 6,000. In Oleshky alone, only about 2,000 residents remain out of a pre-war population of 24,000. Most of those unable to leave are people with limited mobility.
Civilians are targeted by drones
Ukrainian officials say Russian forces are deliberately blocking civilian evacuations and preventing the delivery of food and medicine.
Residents attempting to leave by car or search for food become targets of Russian drone strikes.
More than 6,000 people currently require humanitarian assistance, including around 200 children. Ukrainian authorities have already received over 220 urgent evacuation requests from this area. This information has been confirmed by Ukraine’s ombudsman, intelligence agencies, and international organizations.
Consultations with the UN and Red Cross
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said it has launched urgent consultations with the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross on ways to rescue civilians. Ukraine also plans to raise the issue of the humanitarian crisis in southern Ukraine at meetings of the UN and the OSCE. All evidence of Russian crimes will be submitted to international monitoring missions.
"For Ukraine, nothing is more valuable than human life. We urge the international community to take immediate, concrete action to save our citizens in the occupied Kherson region," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The left-bank part of the Kherson region has remained under Russian occupation since the first days of the full-scale invasion.
Earlier, Ukraine’s intelligence reported that Russia is preparing geological exploration and resource extraction operations at 18 deposits in occupied Ukrainian territories. Officials also said Russian forces plan to continue exporting stolen Ukrainian grain.
Recently, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that despite heavy battlefield losses, Russia is preparing to expand mobilization efforts and launch new offensive operations.
