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Zelensky: International organizations must join rescue efforts in occupied parts of Kherson Oblast

1 min read
Zelensky: International organizations must join rescue efforts in occupied parts of Kherson Oblast
President Volodymyr Zelensky holds a press conference during the European Political Community (EPC) Summit in Bulboaca, Moldova, on June 1, 2023. (DANIEL MIHAILESCU/AFP via Getty Images)

International organizations, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, must begin rescue efforts in the occupied parts of flooded Kherson Oblast, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 7.

"It is so far impossible to determine with certainty how many people in the temporarily occupied territory of Kherson Oblast may die without rescue, without drinking water, without food, without medical assistance," Zelensky added.

According to Zelensky, large-scale efforts by international organizations are needed.

"Every dead person there is a sentence to the existing international architecture, to international organizations that have forgotten how to save lives. If now there is no international organization in the zone of this disaster, it means that it does not exist at all, which means that it's ineffective."

Ukraine's officials reported that Russian occupation authorities are not helping flood victims and are even hindering their evacuation.

Russia destroyed the Kakhovka dam on June 6, triggering a large-scale humanitarian and environmental disaster, particularly in Kherson Oblast.

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Martin Fornusek

Reporter

Martin Fornusek is a reporter for the Kyiv Independent, specializing in international and regional politics, history, and disinformation. Based in Lviv, Martin often reports on international politics, with a focus on analyzing developments related to Ukraine and Russia. His career in journalism began in 2021 after graduating from Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, earning a Master's degree in Conflict and Democracy Studies. Martin has been invited to speak on Times Radio, France 24, Czech Television, and Radio Free Europe. He speaks English, Czech, and Ukrainian.

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