The Ukrainian delegation, together with residents evacuated from Oleshky, has set off for the Russian city of Anapa. From there they will fly to Belarus, and then travel by coach to Ukrainian-controlled territory.
This was reported at around 16:30 on 30 October by Davyd Arakhamia, head of the Servant of the People parliamentary faction and a member of the negotiating group. The number of Ukrainians who will return to Ukraine’s free territory has not yet been disclosed.
In a comment to TSN, Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets, who is leading the Ukrainian delegation in Oleshky, said that Oleshky residents would be able either to leave for Ukraine’s free territory or to go to Russia. They will also be able to stay.
Those who choose to remain will be given humanitarian aid.
Humanitarian Operation in Oleshky
Since 27 October, a humanitarian ceasefire has been established in occupied Oleshky and the surrounding area. The agreement was reached with the mediation of US First Lady Melania Trump.
An evacuation of civilians was planned in Oleshky. The Russian side planned to take everyone to territory under its control, but it was claimed that Ukrainians who wanted to travel to Ukraine’s free territory would be able to do so later via Belarus. There was initially no official confirmation of this plan — excerpts of the agreement were published by the Fox News channel. Later, the fact that citizens would travel via Belarus was confirmed by Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi.
The ceasefire is due to last until 22:59 on 1 November. No breaches of the agreement have been recorded.
On 29 October, the Ukrainian delegation travelled to Oleshky. On the morning of 30 October, it arrived with humanitarian aid. Russians and representatives of Belarus also arrived. Ukraine asked for the evacuation process to be monitored by the American side.
Oleshky had been under Russian occupation for years, and this year the enemy worsened the humanitarian situation there so severely that people were starving. Ukraine dropped food and essential supplies several times by drone. There is information that the occupiers confiscated them.
- More on this: “We will, of course, survive… or not”. What is happening in occupied Oleshky.
For Ukrainians who arrive in the state’s free territory, essential items and accommodation have been prepared.