21 October 2026, 17:01
The Vice President of the European Parliament has gone on a hunger strike over the Oleshky issue
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PHOTO: Pina Picerno/Facebook
Pina Picerno, Vice President of the European Parliament, has gone on a hunger strike in response to the situation in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in the Kherson region, where thousands of people are trapped.
She announced her decision in a post on social media platform X.
According to Picerno, in Oleshky—which is under the control of Russian troops—thousands of people lack regular access to food and medicine. She noted that the area is mined, making it extremely dangerous to leave the city. Those who remain risk dying of starvation, while those who try to leave are currently facing mortal danger.
Read also:A Russian brigade from Crimea, made up of Ukrainians, may be involved in the famine in Oleshky
Pichernoannounced her hunger strike to draw international attention to this issue. At the same time, she emphasized that she does not want to be alone in this campaign and called on civil society organizations, ordinary people, as well as national and local institutions to join her. She described the campaign as nonviolent.
“We must demand an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, the delivery of food and medicine, and the ability to safely evacuate civilians who wish to leave the city,” Picherno stated.
Humanitarian Crisis in Oleshky
A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in the occupied town of Oleshky in the Kherson region: approximately 2,000 civilians remain cut off from the outside world, without a steady supply of food and medicine.
According to the Kherson Regional State Administration, people are starving, and the bodies of the deceased remain unburied for weeks.
In late September 2026, Ukrainian forces managed to deliver about six metric tons of food to 100 locations in the city using drones.
Ukraine, together with the Red Cross, is working to evacuate civilians, while Russia, according to Ukrainian intelligence, is producing staged videos depicting an allegedly prosperous life under occupation.
Pope Leo XIV also held a telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin. He expressed concern about the situation in Oleshky.
