01 July 2026
(Occupied Oleshky. PHOTO: Screenshot from a video)
Dmytro Lubinets, the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, appealed to the International Committee of the Red Cross, calling on it to urge Russia to implement a “ceasefire” on July 3 to facilitate the humanitarian evacuation of civilians from the temporarily occupied town of Oleshky and other settlements in the Kherson region.
The ombudsman announced this during a press conference marking the fourth anniversary of his tenure.
According to Lubinets, he has already sent a letter to the International Committee of the Red Cross requesting that it urge the Russian side to cease hostilities on July 3 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. to ensure the safe evacuation of civilians.
The Ombudsman emphasized that a humanitarian catastrophe has unfolded in Oleshky. He stated that Russian forces are blocking the evacuation of civilians, including children, from the city and five other nearby settlements.
At the same time, he noted that the occupiers had previously evacuated some people, but such evacuations were isolated and not systematic.
Lubinec also reported that Ukraine continues to demand that Russia return all students from the Oleshky boarding school, even if they have since reached the age of majority.
According to him, some of the children have been returned, but efforts to bring back the others are ongoing.
Earlier, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission reported that no food supplies had reached the occupied town of Oleshky since May 26. According to Ukrainian estimates, approximately 6,000 civilians, including about 200 children, need to be evacuated.
Intent reported that in the temporarily occupied town of Oleshky on the left bank of the Kherson region, Russian troops are forcibly seizing food from local residents.
In May, the Ukrainian military attempted to deliver humanitarian aid to the residents of Oleshky using large drones. However, the occupiers began actively shooting downthe dronescarrying medicine and food.
Андрій Колісніченко