Residents of the Ukrainian city of Oleshky, occupied by Russian forces since 2022, have reached territory controlled by Kyiv after months of isolation. Their return was made possible by a several-day local ceasefire, during which an evacuation was organized and humanitarian aid was delivered to the city. However, civilians faced an extremely complicated journey, traveling through Crimea, Russia, and Belarus before reaching safety.
The arrival of the evacuees in Ukraine was confirmed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. According to his statement, they crossed the Ukrainian border and will receive all necessary assistance. AFP reporters described emotional scenes as people stepped off buses and embraced their loved ones.
Returning home meant crossing three territories
The route for evacuated Oleshky residents was not a direct transfer from occupied territory to Ukraine. Those who decided to return first traveled by bus across the Crimean peninsula to the Russian city of Anapa.
From Anapa, they boarded flights to the Belarusian city of Homel. After landing, another bus journey brought them across the border into Ukraine, where Ukrainian officials received them.
The operation required coordination among several parties who are typically on opposing sides of the conflict. The temporary halt in fighting around Oleshky created an opportunity for safer movement of both civilians and humanitarian workers.
Not all those evacuated chose to continue to Ukraine. Some people separated from the group and remained in Russia, while others decided to stay in Oleshky itself.
Oleshky remains under occupation as most residents have already left
Oleshky is located in Ukraine’s Kherson region, on the left bank of the Dnipro River. Russian forces captured the city at the start of their invasion in February 2022. Before the war, Oleshky had a population of about 24,000, but prior to this evacuation only an estimated 1,700 people remained.
Those who stayed in the city faced persistent shortages of food, drinking water, and medicine. The situation was made worse by damaged infrastructure, disrupted supply lines, and proximity to the front lines. Residents had few options to safely leave the occupied area.
We previously reported on the start of this evacuation in an earlier article: Evacuation begins in occupied Oleshky as ceasefire enables civilians to leave.
Ceasefire allowed for delivery of humanitarian aid
Evacuation was not the only goal of the temporary ceasefire. During the operation, Ukrainian and Russian representatives also facilitated delivery of humanitarian aid to the city, providing food and essential supplies to those who remained behind.
Before the operation, it was necessary to clear mines from designated routes. The safe passage of civilians and aid workers was threatened by mines and the ongoing military situation near the city.
The ceasefire ran from 27 October until the evening of 1 November, applying to Oleshky and the surrounding areas in Kherson region. This was a local agreement focused on humanitarian operations, not a general end to hostilities in Ukraine.
Who helped broker the agreement?
The First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump, played a significant role in brokering the ceasefire, according to a White House announcement. She reportedly negotiated with representatives of Russia and Ukraine on conditions for the temporary suspension of military operations in the area.
Previously, Pope Leo XIV had drawn attention to the dire humanitarian situation in Oleshky. He appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to allow a ceasefire to enable food and medical supplies to reach the area, as well as ensure the safe evacuation of civilians.
For more on the efforts of the American First Lady, see the article “Melania Trump credits herself for ceasefire in Ukraine: Aid set to arrive in Oleshky.” We also covered the Vatican’s diplomatic initiative in “Pope Leo XIV called Putin from hospital, requests ceasefire for Oleshky.”
Return brings relief, but situation in the city remains dire
For those evacuated, arrival in Ukrainian-controlled territory meant reunion with family and the promise of further support. Their return represents a significant achievement from the local humanitarian agreement, which made coordination between Ukrainian and Russian representatives possible despite ongoing war.
However, there is no reason to believe the humanitarian crisis in Oleshky is over. Some residents remain in the occupied city and still urgently need food, water, medicine, and healthcare. The ceasefire is strictly time-limited and its existence does not indicate a change in security across the region.
Yet for those who, after months of isolation, have finally reached Ukrainian-held areas, the return marks an important step toward a safer life. It also underscores how complicated it remains to evacuate civilians from occupied territories during ongoing military occupation.
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Evacuated residents of Oleshky departed the city with a Ukrainian delegation
This article was translated from the original Slovak version with the assistance of AI.
