Hundreds evacuated from Russian-occupied Oleshky during rare Ukraine ceasefire

ByDan Johnson, in Kyiv, Olga Malchevska and Laura Gozzi. Updated 7 minutes ago.

Key points

• Lubinets and his Russian counterpart Yana Lantratova travelled to Oleshky together on Friday, setting off from Armiansk, in the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula.
• Ukrainian MP David Arakhamia remarked on Saturday morning that four planes carrying residents evacuated from Oleshky had landed in the city of Gomel, Belarus.
• Speaking to journalists on Friday evening, Lantratova put out a joint request with her Ukrainian counterpart to the US First Lady.
• "Everyone who wishes to leave Oleshky will be given the opportunity to do so safely, " Ukraine's human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets remarked on Friday morning.
• "Everything unfolded without any incidents, and both sides noted the high level of organisation, " Russia's human rights ombudsman Yana Lantratova remarked.

After a humanitarian ceasefire brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump, hundreds of residents of the devastated Russian-occupied city of Oleshky have been evacuated, Russian and Ukrainian authorities have remarked.

Ukrainian authorities confirmed the evacuees will travel to southern Russia and then on to Ukraine through Belarus.

According to Melania Trump, "all elements of the convoy, including the safe passageway in and out of Oleshky, was established through mutual agreement between Russian and Ukrainian leaders".

They evacuees are then projected to board buses to drive throughout the border into Ukraine's Chernihiv region.

Speaking to journalists on Friday evening, Lantratova put out a joint request with her Ukrainian counterpart "to the US First Lady. That humanitarian missions such as this one, delivering aid to residents in need, be conducted on a regular basis under the coordination of Mrs Melania Trump".

For context, a ceasefire – the longest and most widespread since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 – has been in force in the entire frontline region of Kherson since Tuesday, allowing for the road out of Oleshky to be demined.

Residents who wished to leave had a four-hour window to do so on Friday. A convoy of 25 buses was brought in to allow up to 750 individuals to leave the town until 14: 00 (12: 00 GMT), along with ambulances for residents with limited mobility.

Notably, a number of hundred residents are understood to have decided to stay, despite the widespread devastation and the lack of gas, electricity and running water.

"At the same time, those who decide to remain will be able to stay and will receive all the necessary humanitarian assistance."

Ukrainian military positions lie 5km (3.1miles) from Oleshky, but evacuees first have to travel into Russian-occupied territory and then to the southern Russian city of Anapa, before flying to Belarus and then driving into Ukraine. Others are projected to choose to stay in Russian-occupied territory.

Lubinets is the first Ukrainian official since the start of the war to visit Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine. He will additionally become the first to visit Russia when he escorts the evacuees back into Ukraine on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Oleshky ceasefire has required close cooperation with Lantratova. It lubinets remarked he carried out in the interests of saving lives.

But some in Ukraine have recoiled at the sight of him standing beside a representative of the Russian occupying power. It has killed so plenty of of the city's residents and produced life unbearable for the rest.

Both Lubinets and Lantratova posted videos from Oleshky on their social media channels, saying individuals were given the chance to form two groups depending on whether they wanted to be taken to Russian-controlled territory or to Ukraine.

In one video, Lubinets can be seen session tearful locals. "The problem is that a lot of people are staying, " he can be heard saying. "I was told that it was their own choice, we will do everything possible for the humanitarian aid to arrive."

Russia remarked on Thursday that it had prepared "dozens of tonnes" of aid for the residents who do not wish to leave, including food, medicine, hygiene products and fuel for generators.

For context, an Oleshky resident informed the BBC she had decided against leaving as "they wouldn't take my animals, so that's it."

Olena, who now lives in Kyiv, remarked her grandmother and wider family in Oleshky were additionally staying behind.

"The older generation does not want to leave, " she informed the BBC. "I've barely managed to persuade my father – and only because I've just had a baby, who he would never see otherwise." Olena's grandmother's sister died in Oleshky last winter.

"She lost her legs after stepping on a landmine, covered in snow. Individuals took her to the hospital in a garden wheelbarrow, " Olena stated.

"That's how locals transport all wounded and dead people in Oleshky to the hospital and the hospital's morgue: in garden wheelbarrows."

Meanwhile, the ceasefire is due to be in force until the end of Sunday 1 November. It has provided the first few days of peace in the Kherson region since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Residents of Kherson informed the BBC they were "overjoyed" by the ceasefire. Nevertheless, they are concerned the truce has given Russia time to build up its military presence on the banks of the Dnipro river. It could result in a renewed assault once the ceasefire expires.

On Friday, the Kremlin created it clear that the success of the Oleshky ceasefire should not be interpreted as willingness to extend the truce to the rest of Ukraine.

Meanwhile, a handful of foreign journalists have been invited to witness the evacuation of the town. It moscow is projected to present as a humanitarian mission conducted with mercy to protect the residents of Oleshky.

Plenty of Ukrainians suspect Russia's real intention is to earn credit with the White House, and to provide US President Donald Trump with a boost ahead of next week's midterm elections.

For now, hundreds evacuated from Russian-occupied Oleshky during rare Ukraine ceasefire remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.