Photo: t.me/David_Arakhamia
A convoy carrying humanitarian aid entered Russian-occupied Oleshky in Ukraine’s Kherson region on Friday, October 30. The evacuation of residents wishing to leave the city has also begun.
Ukrainian delegation reaches Oleshky
Updated at 12:20 p.m. The first photographs from Oleshky have emerged as the humanitarian mission gets underway.
The images were published by David Arakhamia, head of the parliamentary faction of Ukraine’s Servant of the People party.
“The aid has been delivered. Technical assistance is being provided to those who want to leave,” he wrote.
Residents will be transported to Ukrainian-controlled territory via Belarus.
Ukraine is preparing to receive the first group of evacuees from occupied Oleshky, Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi told parliament during a question-and-answer session with the government.
Before departure, residents are undergoing medical examinations. After crossing the border, they will receive further medical checks and initial assistance in the Chernihiv and Kyiv regions. Evacuees will be provided with clothing and essential supplies before being accommodated in prepared facilities in different parts of Ukraine.
Updated at 11:32 a.m. The Ukrainian delegation has safely reached Oleshky. The evacuation and distribution of humanitarian aid have begun, Arakhamia said in a Telegram post.
“The ceasefire is holding. More details later,” he added.
Humanitarian convoy enters Oleshky
Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev and Russian media reported the start of the humanitarian operation on Friday, October 30.
The mission is being led by Ukraine’s and Russia’s human rights commissioners, Dmytro Lubinets and Yana Lantratova. They are accompanying the aid convoy and coordinating the evacuation of residents who wish to leave the city.
As of 9:30 a.m. on Friday, the two officials were in Armyansk, a city in northern Crimea near the Perekop Isthmus.
“We are in Armyansk, working here with Russian Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova and coordinating further steps as part of this mission. Journalists from three countries have also joined the coverage,” Lubinets later wrote on Telegram.
The Ukrainian delegation travelled first to Gomel in Belarus, then flew to the Russian city of Anapa before travelling by land from Crimea to occupied Oleshky. The same route is intended to be used to evacuate residents.
According to Lubinets, residents wishing to leave Oleshky can choose whether to travel to Ukrainian-controlled territory or to Russia.
The Russian outlet Izvestia reported that the convoy was carrying tens of tonnes of food, medicine, drinking water, hygiene products and fuel for generators. Journalists from Ukraine, Russia, the United States, France and Italy were also travelling toward Oleshky by bus.
A crew from the US television channel Newsmax is expected to be present. US First Lady Melania Trump will not attend. However, her senior adviser, Marc Beckman, said a visit had not been ruled out if the security situation and her schedule allowed it.
The humanitarian convoy is expected to arrive at the city’s central hospital.
Evacuation arrangements
Lubinets said preparations had been completed to a high standard, with the main priority being to ensure that aid reaches everyone in need.
“We are paying particular attention to older people, people with disabilities and anyone who, because of their health or other circumstances, cannot take care of themselves,” the Ukrainian ombudsman said.
According to Lubinets, 25 buses with a total capacity of 750 passengers have been prepared for the evacuation, along with ambulances for people with limited mobility.
Lantratova said around 2,000 people had remained in the city during the occupation.
Residents wishing to leave Oleshky can do so until 2 p.m. on October 30. Distribution of humanitarian aid is scheduled to begin after 2:30 p.m., Lubinets and Lantratova said.
“Everyone who wants to leave Oleshky will be given the opportunity to do so safely. At the same time, those who have decided to stay may remain and will receive all the necessary humanitarian support,” Lubinets stressed.
Evacuation routes cleared of mines
On the eve of the mission, the Ukrainian and Russian ombudsmen said that the routes designated for the humanitarian operation had been cleared of mines.
Lantratova said on Friday that two people, including a deminer, had allegedly been killed while clearing the road to Oleshky.
“Preparations for the humanitarian mission in Oleshky are nearing completion. The designated routes have been cleared of mines. The humanitarian convoy has been assembled and is ready to depart,” Lubinets wrote on the evening of October 29.
Ceasefire has lasted more than 75 hours
The ceasefire began at 3 a.m. Kyiv time on October 27. As of October 30, it had been in effect for more than 75 hours, Lubinets said, adding that no violations had been recorded.
He described it as the longest ceasefire since 2022.
The truce around occupied Oleshky was agreed to enable the humanitarian mission, including the delivery of aid to civilians and the creation of conditions for residents wishing to leave the city to do so safely.
The operation is being conducted with the mediation of US First Lady Melania Trump.
Why a ceasefire was agreed in Oleshky
Russian forces occupied Oleshky in February 2022. After Ukrainian forces liberated Kherson in November that year, the city remained under Russian control on the left bank of the Dnipro River. The destruction of crossings and the city’s proximity to the front line have made travel to Ukrainian-controlled territory extremely difficult.
In June 2023, Oleshky was severely affected by flooding following Russia’s destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant.
By autumn 2026, the humanitarian situation in the city had become critical. Electricity, water and heating supplies were unavailable, while regular deliveries of food and medicine had stopped in May.
According to Ukrainian estimates, between 2,000 and 6,000 civilians remain in the city under the blockade. Ukrainian troops previously delivered food to residents using drones, but this was insufficient to meet the population’s needs.
Arakhamia said the ceasefire was due to remain in effect until 10:59 p.m. on November 1.
