Oleshky humanitarian crisis deepens as Council of Europe demands ceasefire amid starvation
The humanitarian situation in Russian-occupied Oleshky, Kherson Oblast, has reached a critical state, prompting Council of Europe human rights commissioner Michael O'Flaherty to call for an immediate local ceasefire and unhindered aid access. Residents, numbering approximately 6,000 including 200 children, face severe shortages of food, water, and electricity, with some resorting to eating garden weeds. The last successful food delivery was in May, and subsequent attempts were disrupted by drone attacks. While Ukraine and international bodies urge action, Russia has not confirmed readiness for evacuation missions. Concurrently, Ukraine reported the return of 23 children from occupied zones, and the US allocated $27 million to support the repatriation of forcibly deported Ukrainian minors.