Oleshky Evacuation Underway Amid Ceasefire
Humanitarian convoy delivers aid and facilitates departures from Russian-occupied city after demining efforts.
Sarah Connor
The evacuation of the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky is now in progress.
The demining effort around the southern Ukrainian town concluded on Thursday, two days after the ceasefire took effect. Two people died during the operation.
Ukraine's human rights commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets, and his Russian counterpart, Yana Lantratova, travelled to Oleshky together on Friday. A humanitarian convoy, including buses and ambulances, arrived to deliver aid and help with evacuations.
Oleshky, located on the Russian-occupied side of the Dnipro River, faces severe food and medical shortages. Ukraine appealed last month to international organisations for help delivering aid and facilitating evacuations.
A fleet of 25 buses, with at least 750 seats, stood ready to withdraw locals seeking to leave. Up to 6,000 people, including 200 children, remain in the town and its surrounding areas.
The problem is that a lot of people are staying.
The convoy will head for the district hospital. Residents wishing to leave may do so until 2pm local time.
Evacuees will fly to Belarus and then travel back into Ukrainian territory.
Both commissioners and the US side helped mediate the ceasefire. Russia and Ukraine thanked Melania Trump for her assistance in brokering the truce for Oleshky; Pope Leo XIV also pressed for a truce.
Dmytro Lubinets stated, "The problem is that a lot of people are staying."