Evacuations begin in besieged Ukrainian city of Oleshky under rare ceasefire

Residents trapped in the southern Ukrainian city of Oleshky began leaving on Friday during a rare relief operation aimed at easing severe shortages. The municipality, situated across the Dnipro River from Kherson, has endured extensive hardship and destruction since being captured by Russian troops during the initial days of the full-scale conflict in February 2022. The settlement also faced severe flooding following the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in June 2023.

The humanitarian mission involved a convoy of 25 buses and ambulances delivering essential food and medical supplies. A localised ceasefire along the southern frontline in the Kherson region enabled engineers to de-mine connecting roads, facilitating the evacuation process for individuals wishing to depart for either Russia or Ukraine. A delegation including Ukrainian officials arrived at the location late Friday morning, where emotional residents gathered in heavy rain to await transportation.

Civilians in Oleshky began evacuating on Friday during a rare humanitarian operation enabled by a localized ceasefire.

Davyd Arakhamia, a lawmaker participating in the delegation, confirmed that evacuating individuals traveled toward the southern Russian city of Anapa. From there, plans involved flying to Belarus and subsequently driving across the border into Ukraine's Chernihiv region. Meanwhile, Russian military personnel stationed in the area reportedly inspected empty homes and pressured local residents to direct their evacuation toward Russia instead of Ukrainian-held territory.

Volunteers and local authorities noted that approximately 2,000 residents remained in the area prior to the operation. Many have shared difficult accounts of navigating mine-affected routes to secure basic provisions, surviving on minimal daily rations consisting of small amounts of rice, buckwheat, and wild plants. While several hundred individuals, predominantly older residents, decided to remain, human rights officials coordinated relief efforts to ensure ongoing humanitarian support reaches those choosing to stay.

Why it matters

The operation marks the first instance since 2022 of a ceasefire maintaining stability across an extended section of the frontline for a significant duration, offering a rare example of cooperation between the warring sides. For the remaining residents of Oleshky and their families, the initiative provides a vital lifeline after months of acute food and medical shortages.