Ukraine prepares 25 buses to evacuate civilians from Russian-occupied Oleshky
Ukraine has prepared 25 buses with a total capacity of 750 passengers, along with ambulances for people with limited mobility, as part of a humanitarian mission to evacuate civilians from Russian-occupied Oleshky in Kherson Oblast.
Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets announced the preparations on October 30, saying Ukrainian and Russian representatives were coordinating the mission in Armyansk, Russian-occupied Crimea.
The operation aims to deliver humanitarian aid to residents of Oleshky and provide safe passage for those wishing to leave the city.
"Our main task is to ensure that this aid reaches everyone who needs it," Lubinets said.
He added that special attention would be given to elderly residents, people with disabilities and others unable to care for themselves independently.
Residents who choose to remain in Oleshky will also be able to receive humanitarian assistance, according to the commissioner.
Lubinets said journalists from three countries were covering the mission and stressed the importance of both sides maintaining the ceasefire.
On October 29, he announced that demining of the routes to Oleshky had been completed and that the humanitarian convoy was ready for departure.
A temporary ceasefire took effect at 3 a.m. on October 27 to facilitate humanitarian access and civilian evacuations. The arrangement is scheduled to remain in place until 10:59 p.m. on November 1.
The agreement was reached through mediation by US First Lady Melania Trump, according to Ukrainian officials.
Oleshky, located on the Russian-occupied eastern bank of the Dnipro River in southern Ukraine, has faced a prolonged humanitarian crisis amid the war.