After his call with Putin, Pope Leo XIV phoned Zelensky: hopes for aid and a voluntary evacuation of Oleshky residents
Place: Vatican, KyivRegion: Kherson regionautomatic summary
Where the versions diverge
All three groups relay the Vatican's statement on hopes for aid deliveries and an evacuation. RIA Novosti adds the Kremlin's version blaming Kyiv and calls Oleshky a Russian town; Ukrainian outlets stress that the town is occupied and quote Zelensky on Russian strikes. The Kyiv Independent notes that there is no final agreement on an evacuation.
What Russia reports
automatic summary RIA Novosti, citing the Holy See press office, reports that in a phone call with Volodymyr Zelensky Pope Leo XIV drew attention to the difficult situation in Oleshky and expressed hope that cooperation between the two sides would make it possible to deliver food and medicine to residents and ensure their voluntary and safe evacuation. The agency recalls that in his conversation with the pontiff on 16 October Putin gave "exhaustive explanations" of Kyiv's responsibility, and calls Oleshky a Russian town.
“Папа Римский выразил надежду, что сотрудничество обеих сторон (России и Украины - ред.) позволит доставить населению продовольственную и медицинскую помощь, а также обеспечить добровольную и безопасную эвакуацию мирных жителей”
- Папа римский обсудил с Зеленским гуманитарную ситуацию в Алешках — RIA Novosti, 19 October, 21:45
What Ukraine reports
automatic summary Ukrainska Pravda and RBC-Ukraine, citing the Holy See, write that the call took place a few days after the Pope's call with Putin and that the pontiff recalled his request for a "humanitarian ceasefire" in occupied Oleshky. Zelensky said he told the Pope in detail about Russian escalation and constant strikes on Ukrainian cities. In the Vatican quote RBC-Ukraine adds the editorial note "dictator" to Putin's name.
“Папа Римський поспілкувався з Зеленським щодо ситуації в тимчасово окупованому місті Олешки, що в Херсонській області.”
“Під час бесіди Святіший Отець звернув увагу на важку ситуацію в місті Олешки Херсонської області”
- Папа Римський після розмови з Путіним поговорив із Зеленським про Олешки — Ukrainska Pravda, 19 October, 20:08
- Папа Римський зателефонував Зеленському після переговорів із Путіним: що обговорили — RBC-Ukraine, 19 October, 20:37
What independent sources report
automatic summary The Kyiv Independent quotes Zelensky: Ukraine is working to help the people in the town and is preparing solutions, and the Pope told him about his contacts with the Russian side. The outlet recalls that about two thousand residents remain in the town without sufficient food and medicine, that according to Lubinets the sides are close to an agreement on evacuation, but no final agreement has been publicly announced and it is unclear how much the Pope influenced it.
“We are working to help our people there and are preparing solutions”
“No final agreement has been publicly announced, and it remains unclear when an evacuation could begin.”
- Pope Leo, Zelensky discuss hopes for ceasefire in Russian-occupied Oleshky — Kyiv Independent, 19 October, 21:50
Confirmation
Confirmation: both sides report it, no independent sources
Both Russian and Ukrainian sources describe the event, but there are no international independent sources in the selection.
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