Ukraine FM Calls on World to Demand Russia End Siege of Oleshky

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiga issued an urgent appeal to the international community on September 30, urging governments and organizations to pressure Russia into immediately ending the siege of Oleshky, a city in occupied southern Ukraine.

Writing on social media platform X, Sybiga said Ukrainian forces are doing everything possible to help residents, including delivering humanitarian aid by drone.

"Every day counts in saving the lives of people who are starving and dying there. We call on our international partners to act immediately and demand immediate humanitarian access to end this catastrophe," Sybiga wrote.

Russian Propaganda Campaign Planned

The foreign minister also warned that Russia is preparing a disinformation operation to deny the crisis. According to Ukrainian intelligence, Moscow plans to film dozens of videos in occupied Oleshky, forcing residents to claim on camera that they are happy, well-fed, and grateful to the Russian occupiers.

International Response

The European Union has also engaged with the issue: EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the EU is trying to deliver humanitarian aid to occupied Oleshky. The EU formally demanded Russia provide humanitarian access to the city.

Oleshky, located across from Kherson on the occupied left bank of the Dnipro River, has been under a Russian siege for months, according to Ukrainian reporting. Residents have reportedly been eating grass and burying the dead in hospital basements.