Italian MEP Pina Picierno, a vice president of the European Parliament, is on a hunger strike to draw attention to the dramatic humanitarian situation in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky.
Picierno told the news site EUobserver on Thursday that she is refusing solid food in solidarity with the city’s residents, who remain cut off from basic humanitarian aid.
On Friday, the politician said on the social platform X that more than 700 people, from Italy and many other countries, had joined her protest.
“Thank you to everyone who decided to be with us and to give a voice to those who are suffering from hunger. Let us continue this together, so that a ceasefire, food and humanitarian aid reach Oleshky immediately. For Oleshky — together,” the European Parliament vice president wrote.
Ukrainian authorities had warned earlier that the situation in Oleshky is dire. About 2,000 people, including 50 children, are in the city without access to food or water. The city was flooded after the destruction of the nearby dam in Nova Kakhovka.
Oleshky lies about 4 km (2.5 miles) from Kherson, on the left bank of the Dnieper River, which is occupied by Russia. According to reports, the roads leading to the city are mined and Russian drones operate there constantly, making it even harder for residents to leave.
On Friday, U.S. First Lady Melania Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to temporarily halt fighting in Oleshky starting Oct. 29, to allow humanitarian aid to be delivered and to prepare an evacuation of civilians.
The pause in fighting is intended to allow humanitarian aid to be delivered and a safe corridor to be prepared for evacuating residents.
On Friday evening, the parties said that fire in the Kherson region would be halted on Oct. 27.
Brussels, Łukasz Osiński (PAP)
White House: Russia and Ukraine Agree to Ceasefire in Oleshky
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to temporarily halt fighting in Oleshky starting Oct. 29, to allow humanitarian aid to be delivered and to prepare an evacuation of civilians, the White House said on Friday. It added that First Lady Melania Trump brought this about.
Ukrainian authorities had warned earlier that the situation in Oleshky is dire. About 2,000 people, including 50 children, are in the city without access to food or water. The city was flooded after the destruction of the nearby dam in Nova Kakhovka.
Oleshky lies about 4 km (2.5 miles) from Kherson, on the left bank of the Dnieper River, which is occupied by Russia. According to reports, the roads leading to the city are mined and Russian drones operate there constantly, making it even harder for residents to leave.
According to the White House, the temporary truce is to begin on Oct. 29. It did not say how long it would last. The pause in fighting is intended to allow humanitarian aid to be delivered and a safe corridor to be prepared for evacuating residents.
So far there has been no official confirmation from either side of the conflict.
“Civilian leaders from both countries, who are not members of the military, will jointly visit residents of Oleshky in their homes and determine what level of aid they need. Residents who wish to evacuate will receive coordinated support and transportation to their preferred destination. I expect that some will want to go to Russia and others to Ukraine,” the wife of the U.S. president said in a statement.
She added that the effort is to be accompanied by a team of journalists from an “impartial” U.S. media outlet, who will document the process.
“This will be very important in ensuring that the wishes of each family are faithfully respected,” Trump said.
She noted that she learned of the plight of the front-line town’s residents in September, during a visit to the U.N. General Assembly.
The first lady’s intervention is the latest episode in her involvement in talks on the war in Ukraine and the situation of civilians. She previously helped broker an agreement on the return of a total of 34 children taken from Ukraine to Russia.
Washington, Oskar Górzyński (PAP)
