Andrii Sybiha: 1,700 people trapped in Oleshky, sole exit route mined

Humanitarian catastrophe in Kherson region

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reported that the Russian side is creating conditions to turn the city of Oleshky into a deadly trap for the civilian population. According to him, approximately 1,700 people remain trapped in the destroyed city.

The only available route out of the city is mined, and movement along it is controlled by strike drones. People attempting to save themselves face the risk of death. The river flowing nearby is also mined. Local residents express doubts about their ability to survive this winter.

Critical state of medical care and living conditions

Stocks of medicines have been exhausted at the local hospital. Dozens of bodies of the dead lie in the streets and in homes, as Russian occupiers prohibit residents from burying the deceased.

Families are suffering from hunger, surviving on leftover vegetables, home preserves, and even snails. According to local accounts, Russian soldiers threatened them with weapons, demanding they hand over their food.

Appeal to the international community

«Україна неодноразово закликала забезпечити безпечну евакуацію та міжнародний гуманітарний доступ. Ці заклики не можуть залишатися без відповіді» (Ukraine has repeatedly called for safe evacuation and international humanitarian access to be ensured. These calls cannot go unanswered), the Foreign Minister emphasised.

Andrii Sybiha appealed to the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and all partners, demanding that all available channels be used to organise safe evacuation corridors and immediate access for humanitarian aid to Oleshky. He stressed that Russia must stop obstructing efforts to save the civilian population.

Gratitude for international support

The Minister thanked partners and people around the world who do not remain silent and become the voice of Oleshky's residents. He separately expressed gratitude to Pope Leo XIV for his call to Vladimir Putin to declare a ceasefire in Oleshky to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid.

«Люди не можуть вижити завдяки самим лише заявам про стурбованість. Їм потрібні конкретні дії. Їм потрібна можливість вибратися звідти. І потрібна вона негайно» (People cannot survive on statements of concern alone. They need concrete actions. They need the opportunity to get out. And they need it immediately), Sybiha noted.