Tom Fletcher
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Council of Churches appeals to Pope Leo XIV over starvation risk in Russian-occupied Oleshky
The All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations has appealed to Pope Leo XIV, the World Council of Churches, the World Evangelical Alliance, UN member states and the International Committee of the Red Cross to intervene in a critical humanitarian situation in Russian-occupied Oleshky, Kherson Oblast. According to the council and Ukrainian officials, no food has reached the city since late May 2026, civilians lack water, medicines, electricity and gas, and Russian forces are blocking evacuation. Kyiv says it will raise the issue at the UN General Assembly High-Level Week.