Hundreds of Ukrainians evacuated from occupied Oleshky amidst ceasefire

One elderly man recounted losing a significant amount of weight – approximately 20 kilograms – over the past year, requiring medical attention. Svitlana Yermakova shared that residents were forced to consume grass and squash to survive. She risked traversing minefields on a bicycle to procure food for herself and her dog, Manila.

The group included individuals ranging in age from a baby over one year old to a 94-year-old resident. Emotional reunions unfolded as evacuees arrived, with some being greeted by loved ones holding Ukrainian flags.

The complex rescue operation, involving travel through Crimea, Belarus, and ultimately to Ukraine, was facilitated with the involvement of US First Lady Melania Trump and appeals from Pope Leo XIV. A video released by Ukraine’s ombudsman showed the evacuees disembarking from a plane in Belarus, many needing assistance.

At a reception point in northern Ukraine, aid organizations such as the Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, and World Central Kitchen provided essential support, including food, medical care, and veterinary services for accompanying pets.

Liza Paliy, 19, waited to reunite with her father, who had remained in the occupied Kherson region to protect their home for over two and a half years. Daria Pavlyn anxiously awaited news of her father, Mykhailo, with whom she lost contact a month ago after he stayed behind to care for their property and animals.

Ukrainian authorities imposed strict reporting restrictions on the operation to protect those who chose to remain in Oleshky and to ensure the security of potential future humanitarian corridors.

The US First Lady previously indicated the operation aimed to evacuate over 750 people, though the exact number of returnees remains unconfirmed.

Oleshky, located on the Russian-occupied east bank of the Dnipro River, has faced relentless shelling and drone surveillance since commercial supply lines collapsed in May. An estimated 1,700 to 2,000 residents remained from a pre-war population of roughly 24,000.

The ceasefire, initiated on Tuesday at 3:00 am, was scheduled to last until Sunday evening, offering residents the options of relocating to Russia, returning to Ukrainian territory, or staying in Oleshky with replenished supplies.

Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s human rights commissioner, accompanied the evacuees throughout their journey. Russian Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova affirmed that conditions in Oleshky remain challenging and that humanitarian missions will continue.

President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that Russian drone attacks targeted energy and rail infrastructure, affecting power to 280,000 households in the Kyiv and Dnipro regions. The United States also approved a $2.1 billion sale of Patriot PAC-3 interceptors to Ukraine.