Inside the high-stakes mission to rescue civilians from Russian-occupied Oleshky

Humanitarian convoy set to reach Oleshky on October 30

Russian leader's special envoy Kirill Dmitriev announced the start of the humanitarian operation in Oleshky on Friday on social media platform X. Russian media outlets also reported on the mission.

As previously reported, the mission is being led by the human rights commissioners of Ukraine and Russia, Dmytro Lubinets and Yana Lantratova. They are accompanying the humanitarian aid convoy and plan to organize the evacuation of residents who wish to leave the city.

As of 9:30 a.m. on Friday, October 30, they were in Armyansk, a city in northern Crimea located on the Perekop Isthmus.

"We are currently in Armiansk, working alongside Russian Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova and coordinating further steps within the framework of this mission. Journalists from three countries have also joined us to cover the mission," Lubinets later wrote on his Telegram channel.

To reach Oleshky, the Ukrainian delegation first traveled to Gomel in Belarus, then flew to the Russian city of Anapa before continuing overland from Crimea to the occupied city. The same route is expected to be used to evacuate Oleshky residents.

According to Lubinets, residents of Oleshky who wish to evacuate will be able to choose their destination: Ukrainian-controlled territory or Russia.

Russian outlet Izvestia reported that the vehicles are carrying dozens of tons of food, medicine, drinking water, hygiene supplies, and fuel for generators. Journalists from Ukraine, Russia, the United States, France, and Italy are traveling by bus toward Oleshky alongside the humanitarian convoy.

A crew from the US television channel Newsmax is also expected to be in Oleshky. However, US First Lady Melania Trump will not be present. Her possible visit has not been ruled out if "the security situation and schedule allow," said her senior adviser, Marc Beckman.

The humanitarian convoy is expected to arrive at the city's central hospital.

When will the evacuation from Oleshky take place?

According to Lubinets, "Everything has now been prepared to a high standard," and the main task is to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches everyone who needs it.

"Particular attention is being paid to older people, persons with disabilities, and anyone who is unable to care for themselves due to their health condition or other circumstances," the Ukrainian ombudsman said.

He said that 25 buses with a total capacity of 750 passengers had been prepared for the evacuation, along with ambulances for people with limited mobility. According to Lantratova, around 2,000 people remained in the city during the occupation.

Residents wishing to leave Oleshky will be able to do so until 2 p.m. on October 30. The distribution of humanitarian aid will begin after 2:30 p.m. the same day, Lubinets and Lantratova said.

"Everyone who wishes to leave Oleshky will be given the opportunity to do so safely. At the same time, those who decide to remain will be able to stay and will receive all the necessary humanitarian assistance," Lubinets stressed.

Demining evacuation routes from Oleshky

The previous day, the human rights commissioners of Ukraine and Russia announced that the routes for the humanitarian mission had been cleared of mines.

Today, Lantratova said that two people, including a deminer, had allegedly been killed while clearing the road to Oleshky.

"Preparations for the humanitarian mission to Oleshky have reached their final stage. Demining of the designated routes has been completed, and the humanitarian convoy has been assembled and is ready for dispatch," Lubinets wrote on the evening of October 29.

Ceasefire in Oleshky has held for more than 75 hours

The ceasefire began on October 27 at 3 a.m. Kyiv time. According to Lubinets, as of October 30, it had been in place for more than 75 hours, with no violations reported. He described it as the longest ceasefire since 2022.

The ceasefire in the area around occupied Oleshky, in the Kherson region, was introduced to allow the humanitarian mission to take place.

The agreement provides for the delivery of aid to civilians and the creation of conditions for the safe departure of residents who wish to leave the city. The operation is being carried out with the mediation of US First Lady Melania Trump.

Why was a ceasefire agreed in Oleshky?

Russian forces occupied Oleshky in the Kherson region in February 2022. After the liberation of Kherson in November of that year, the city remained under Russian control on the left bank of the Dnipro River. The destruction of crossings and the city's proximity to the front line have made access to Ukrainian-controlled territory extremely difficult.

In June 2023, Oleshky was hit by devastating flooding following Russia's destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant. By the fall of 2026, the humanitarian situation in the city had become critical: there is no electricity, water, or heating, and regular deliveries of food and medicine stopped back in May.

According to Ukrainian estimates, between 2,000 and 6,000 civilians remain trapped in the city under blockade. Ukrainian troops previously used drones to deliver food to residents, but this has not been enough to meet the population's needs.

According to David Arakhamia, head of the Servant of the People parliamentary faction, the ceasefire is scheduled to remain in effect until 10:59 p.m. on November 1.