▲ Oleshky residents greet the Ukrainian delegation.
Reuters and other outlets reported that on October 30 (local time), marking the fourth day of a localized ceasefire in the Russian-occupied southern Ukrainian town of Oleshky, the evacuation of some local residents who had been isolated for months began.
Yana Lantratova, Russia's human rights ombudsperson, met with reporters alongside Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's parliamentary human rights commissioner and chief negotiator, in Armyansk, Russian-controlled Crimea, stating that residents were boarding 25 evacuation buses.
Special measures were also arranged for those with limited mobility, and 50 medical personnel were deployed to the evacuation site.
Pet carriers were prepared for those wishing to travel with their pets.
Reports indicated that some expressed a desire to head to Russia, while others wished to go to Ukraine.
However, it remains unclear exactly how many people chose each destination or whether any residents opted to remain in Oleshky.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal (Note: translated from the reference name, but keeping strict to original text context — wait, let's look at original text: 세르히 코레츠키 우크라이나 총리) explained in a speech to the Verkhovna Rada (parliament) that day that Oleshky residents heading to Ukraine would travel through Russia and Belarus before entering the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv or the Chernihiv region.
Lantratova added that the delivery of humanitarian aid, including food, hygiene products, medical supplies, and fuel, into Oleshky also began that day.
Before the convoy of relief vehicles arrived, demining operations were carried out, during which a total of two people, including Russian military combat engineers, were killed.
Lubinets emphasized, "We agreed to help residents who wish to move to Ukraine," adding, "Similarly, assistance will be provided to those who want to go to Russia."
A video posted by Lubinets on social media captured Oleshky residents weeping as they welcomed the Ukrainian delegation.
Russia seized Oleshky immediately after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Located along the Dnipro River opposite Kherson, the capital of Ukraine's Kherson Oblast, Oleshky became isolated as fighting intensified between the two militaries.
Residents reportedly had to risk their lives traveling along a mine-laden "path of death" to secure food and water.
Short on food, some reportedly resorted to eating wild plants, while others caught and ate pigeons.
Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov praised the high level of coordination achieved between Lantratova and Lubinets.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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