Kherson's Oleshky prepares for evacuation, Ukrainian delegation is already on its way
Photo: Oleshky prepares for evacuation (facebook.com/34obrmp)
A humanitarian mission is being prepared for Russian-occupied Oleshky. A Ukrainian delegation is already heading to the city, while routes are being cleared of mines. Humanitarian aid is expected to be delivered to civilians on October 30. The sides have also agreed on a mechanism to evacuate those who wish to leave.
How the evacuation from Oleshky is being prepared, where residents will be taken, and what is known about the humanitarian mission — RBC-Ukraine reports in the article below.
Ukrainian delegation heads to Oleshky
On the morning of October 29, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets set off toward Russian-occupied Oleshky at the head of a Ukrainian delegation to carry out a humanitarian mission. David Arakhamia, head of the Servant of the People parliamentary faction, announced the departure, which Lubinets later confirmed himself.
"The next steps are delivering humanitarian aid to people who remain in the city and working to ensure that residents can leave safely. This effort is being carried out under agreements reached with Russia's human rights commissioner, Yana Lantratova, with the assistance and coordination of US First Lady Melania Trump," the ombudsman wrote.
The Ukrainian delegation led by Lubinets has already arrived in Belarus. From there, it will fly to Anapa, then travel to Simferopol before heading to Oleshky to evacuate residents.
Routes are being cleared of mines
According to Lubinets, routes needed for the humanitarian mission are currently being cleared of mines. At the same time, humanitarian supplies are being assembled for delivery to Oleshky tomorrow, October 30.
"The ceasefire has been in effect for 54 hours. It began at 3 a.m. Kyiv time on October 27. Both sides are fully complying with the agreed arrangements, and no ceasefire violations have been recorded," the ombudsman stressed.
"Kherson has literally come back to life"
Meanwhile, residents of Kherson have been able to go outside in peace for the first time in a long while. According to Lubinets, the ceasefire in Oleshky has also affected Kherson, where people are once again able to move around the streets freely and feel safe.
"Kherson, which had been under constant shelling, has literally come back to life. There are more people on the streets, and city life has picked up. People are going outside in peace, taking walks and enjoying the autumn sunshine. What is ordinary everyday life for some is now the greatest wish of Kherson region residents," the ombudsman said on Wednesday, October 28.
US journalists to travel to Oleshky
US First Lady Melania Trump confirmed on her X account that four journalists from American television network Newsmax would work in Oleshky as neutral observers and document the humanitarian mission.
American Newsmax journalists will cover the humanitarian mission in Oleshky (X screenshot)
How residents will be evacuated from Oleshky
US television network Fox News published excerpts from the agreement on the ceasefire in Oleshky. Under the arrangement, residents who wish to leave the city for Ukrainian-controlled territory will first travel to Anapa Airport in Russia's Krasnodar Krai, then fly to Gomel, Belarus, aboard a Russian Defense Ministry military transport aircraft.
The flight is scheduled to depart from Vityazevo Airport in Anapa. Ukrainian ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, two members of his office, and two Ukrainian journalists will accompany the evacuees. Russia's human rights commissioner, Yana Lantratova, and a representative of the humanitarian mission coordination group will also be part of the accompanying delegation.
The agreement also states that the outcome of the humanitarian mission will be a further agreement between Russia and Ukraine on the systematic delivery of humanitarian aid, food, medicine and fuel (gasoline and diesel), as well as repatriation efforts in settlements across Kherson region. These activities will be carried out as needed, but at least once a month.
How Oleshky came under occupation and why a ceasefire was introduced
Russian forces occupied Oleshky in Ukraine's Kherson region in February 2022. After Kherson was liberated in November 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 severely disrupted access to Ukrainian-controlled territory.
In June 2023, Oleshky was hit by severe flooding caused by Russia's destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant. By the fall of 2026, the humanitarian situation in the city had become critical. The city has no electricity, water, or heating, while 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.
A ceasefire was introduced in the Oleshky area on October 27, 2026, to enable humanitarian aid deliveries and prepare for the evacuation of residents wishing to leave. The operation is being conducted with the mediation of US First Lady Melania Trump. The Ukrainian negotiating team is led by ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, while Russia is represented by its human rights commissioner, Yana Lantratova.
According to Arakhamia, the ceasefire is scheduled to remain in effect until 10:59 p.m. on November 1. The mission aims to deliver aid to civilians and establish conditions for the safe movement and evacuation of those who need it.
Read also: Putin’s office suggests expanding ceasefire in Ukraine following Oleshky example
