Pina Picierno, the European Parliament Vice President, ended her hunger strike on Oct 24 after an announcement of a local ceasefire in Oleshky. She started the hunger strike on Oct 20 to demand an immediate humanitarian truce in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in Kherson Oblast. Lubinets informed Picierno that authorities agreed to a temporary local ceasefire in Oleshky to allow humanitarian aid deliveries and the evacuation of the civilian population starting on Oct 27, including demining the road to the town and deliveries of food, water, and medicine. The deal also permits safe passage for civilians during the operation. I find the immediate end to the hunger strike a logical reaction to the announcement of the truce. Picierno’s strike sought awareness for the humanitarian crisis. Picierno stated she wanted diplomacy to deliver concrete results so that no one is left to die in silence.
Humanitarian aid and evacuation
The truce targets a situation where 2,000 civilians remain trapped in Oleshky, which sits just across the Dnipro River from Kherson. Russian troops blocked humanitarian aid from entering the town, causing a critical shortage of food and medicine. Civilians who attempt to flee via the mined roads in and out of the city face frequent drone strikes. Melania Trump facilitated the temporary truce by speaking with both the Russian and Ukrainian sides. Non-military, civilian leaders from both countries will work together to visit Oleshky residents in their homes to determine the level of assistance they require. Residents who wish to evacuate will receive coordinated support and transportation to their preferred destination via the demined routes. I note that some residents may go to Russia, while others will go to Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video message on Oct 24 that Ukraine will fulfill its part of this "extremely difficult" humanitarian operation to unblock Oleshky. The operation aims to provide food, water, medicine, and medical equipment to the town. The agreement includes demining the road to the town to allow safe passage. This follows a phone call on Oct 16 where Pope Leo XIV spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin to call for a ceasefire.
