A Hunger Strike for Oleshky: European Parliament Vice-President Calls for a Humanitarian Ceasefire

Vice-President of the European Parliament Pina Picierno has announced a hunger strike in support of residents of Oleshky, in the Kherson region, which is occupied by Russia. Her aim is to draw international attention to the humanitarian catastrophe in the city. The politician announced her decision and demands on social media platform X. According to x.com.

“This struggle cannot be mine alone. I call on associations, citizens, and national and local institutions to join this major non-violent action. We must demand an immediate humanitarian truce, access for food and medicine, and the opportunity to safely evacuate civilians who wish to leave the city,” Pina Picierno wrote.

With her hunger strike, the Vice-President also hopes to support Pope Leo XIV and others working to prevent a humanitarian tragedy in Oleshky. Recently, during a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the pontiff called for a ceasefire in the city. This would allow food and medicine to be delivered and civilians to be evacuated safely and voluntarily.

Oleshky has been under Russian occupation since the start of the full-scale invasion. The city, on the left bank of the Kherson region, is close to the front line, leaving residents at constant risk of shelling and drone attacks. In 2023, after Russian forces blew up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, the city was extensively flooded. The damaged infrastructure has deprived residents of normal access to коммунal services.

In 2026, humanitarian conditions in Oleshky have worsened further. There is no reliable electricity or gas supply, and food, medicine and drinking water are difficult to obtain. Residents say they are living on what remains of their own supplies and produce from their gardens; they also sell or barter food. At the same time, people are effectively barred from leaving the occupied city.

The Ukrainian military has tried to deliver food and medicine to residents of Oleshky using large drones. Ukraine has also made repeated attempts to organize the evacuation of civilians and deliver humanitarian aid. However, the fighting and the actions of Russian troops make these efforts extremely difficult.

Public calls to draw attention to the city’s critical situation have also been made by well-known figures:

• Ukrainian tennis player Oleksandra Oliinykova called for attention to be drawn to Oleshky after defeating American Vivian Wolff in the first round of the WTA 500 tournament in Singapore.
• German designer and stylist Frank Peter Wilde posted a photograph on social media dedicated to temporarily occupied Oleshky.

Dmytro Lubinets, the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, said that Ukraine was making progress in negotiations with Russia on evacuating civilians from Oleshky. The ombudsman expressed hope that the parties would achieve concrete results in the near future.

We previously reported:

• Diplomat compares situation in Oleshky to the Holodomor: Russians are taking food away
• Hunger drives people from their homes, while roads are mined: Oleshky residents escape without evacuation
• EU calls for humanitarian aid to be allowed into occupied Oleshky
• Occupied Oleshky: evacuation lists compiled as plans to open a route are discussed
• Humanitarian catastrophe: water is running out in Oleshky and people are dying every day