The All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations has urgently appealed to Pope Leo XIV and international humanitarian leaders to intervene in the dire situation unfolding in Oleshky, a city in the Kherson region occupied by Russian forces. The council’s announcement highlights the critical humanitarian crisis, with over 6,000 civilians trapped without food or medical supplies since late May.
Representing Ukraine’s diverse Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities, the interfaith council warned that Oleshky is under a complete military blockade, pushing the region toward a potential humanitarian catastrophe. The situation has deteriorated significantly, with no confirmed humanitarian deliveries reaching the area for months.
Religious leaders have reported that the last confirmed delivery of food and supplies occurred on May 26, 2026, leaving thousands of residents, including around 200 children, isolated and vulnerable. The blockade has rendered escape routes inaccessible, as Russian troops actively prevent civilians from leaving.
According to estimates from the council, the local population is facing severe shortages of essential food items, clean drinking water, and critical medications. The destruction of the municipal utility network has left many districts without electricity, running water, or gas supplies.
Oleshky also suffered catastrophic flooding in June 2023 when Russian forces destroyed the Nova Kakhovka hydroelectric dam, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis by damaging local infrastructure.
Urgent Humanitarian Plea
The council’s appeal extends to the World Council of Churches, the World Evangelical Alliance, and various international human rights organizations, urging them to negotiate emergency humanitarian corridors and facilitate the evacuation of non-combatants to safer areas.
Local military administrators and international monitoring missions have documented the isolation of Oleshky, with the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission confirming that no food shipments have reached the enclave since late May.
Despite being only four kilometers from liberated Kherson, the geography and ongoing conflict make escape nearly impossible. Destroyed bridges, heavy combat, and minefields hinder any attempts to cross the Dnipro River.
With local stores and pharmacies closed, residents have relied on home-grown produce throughout the summer. However, as autumn approaches, the lack of seasonal food sources has intensified the crisis, leaving basic staples like flour and sugar nearly unobtainable.
Wider Humanitarian Crisis
The plight of Oleshky reflects broader humanitarian challenges across the lower Dnipro region, where civilians continue to face threats from ongoing military actions. Residents have resorted to desperate measures for survival, including hunting and rationing food.
Russian authorities have conducted limited aid distributions, but these are strictly conditional on recipients possessing Russian identity documents, leaving many Ukrainian citizens without assistance.
