Joint aid and evacuations begin in Oleshky amidst ongoing conflict

This initiative, facilitated by a local ceasefire brokered by Melania Trump, saw an aid convoy reach Oleshky, providing residents with the option to leave. The event represents a rare instance of cooperation between the warring factions.

Despite this progress, hostilities persist in other areas. Overnight strikes targeted seven regions, including the capital, Kyiv, and the city of Dnipro, according to officials. Russia claims to have intercepted 1,043 Ukrainian drones overnight. Earlier this week, a Russian drone strike resulted in at least 15 fatalities on a rail platform in Dnipro.

Russian Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova reported that evacuation buses were transporting people, with some heading to Russia and others to Ukraine. A senior Ukrainian lawmaker confirmed the start of evacuations, though the number of people in each group and the total number of residents choosing to stay remain unclear.

Prime Minister Sergiy Koretskyi, addressing Ukraine’s parliament, stated that those evacuating to Ukraine would transit through Russia to Belarus before entering the Kyiv and Chernihiv regions, as reported by Interfax Ukraine.

Lantratova and her Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Lubinets, jointly announced the delivery of food, hygiene products, medical supplies, and fuel to Oleshky. Lubinets assured that all those in need of assistance would receive it.

“We have reached an agreement to assist citizens who wish to travel to Ukraine — they will be provided with the opportunity to do so. Likewise, assistance will be available to those who wish to travel to the Russian Federation,” he said.

Footage released by Lubinets showed residents warmly greeting the Ukrainian delegation.

Oleshky, located on the Dnipro River opposite Kherson, was captured by Russian forces in February 2022. The town has sustained significant damage and was heavily flooded following the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in 2023. Residents have described perilous journeys for basic necessities, with one route nicknamed the “road of death.” Some have reported surviving on minimal rations.

A local ceasefire went into effect in Oleshky and the Kherson region on Tuesday. Lubinets emphasized the significance of this ceasefire, noting its extent and duration compared to previous periods.

Lantratova mentioned that demining operations preceded the aid convoy’s arrival, resulting in the deaths of a sapper and another individual. Twenty-five buses were prepared for evacuation, including accommodations for those with mobility issues and a dedicated bus for pets, accompanied by 50 medical personnel.

The joint relief operation offers a glimmer of hope for cooperation despite the ongoing war, characterized by intensified long-range airstrikes and largely static front lines. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged a “high degree of co-ordination” between Lantratova and Lubinets.

Peace talks, mediated by the U.S., are scheduled to resume next month in Abu Dhabi, the first such discussions since February. These talks aim to address Russia’s demands, including control of the Donbas region and a ban on Ukraine’s NATO membership, alongside Kyiv’s desire for continued U.S. intelligence support and access to battlefield communications systems.