Family reunited after two years as residents evacuated from Russian-occupied Oleshky begin new lives
A family separated for two years by Russia's occupation of southern Ukraine has been reunited as residents evacuated from the town of Oleshky leave hospitals and begin rebuilding their lives in safer parts of the country.
Ukraine's Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets said on November 11 that a second group of evacuees had traveled to the Chernivtsi, Volyn and Zakarpattia regions after receiving medical treatment.
Among them were a man and his wife who had remained in Russian-occupied Oleshky while his mother lived in Ukrainian-controlled territory. The family had stayed in touch but had not seen one another for two years.
They have now reunited and will settle in the Chernivtsi region in western Ukraine, Lubinets said.
Another couple, whose home in Oleshky was destroyed, arrived in the Volyn region, where local authorities and charities are helping them find temporary accommodation. Two elderly families and another man traveled to Zakarpattia, where housing has been prepared to meet their needs.
The evacuees are among residents brought out of Oleshky during a humanitarian operation conducted under a temporary ceasefire from October 27 to November 1. The Russian-occupied town in the Kherson region had been experiencing a severe humanitarian crisis.
Lubinets said the evacuees had received medical care, clothing, hygiene supplies and phones. Authorities also helped them obtain identity documents, bank cards, displacement certificates and financial assistance.
"The most important thing is that everyone is now safe," Lubinets wrote. "Ahead lies the restoration of everyday life and the opportunity to plan for the future."
He said the first group of former hospital patients had relocated over the weekend, while officials and volunteers continued arranging accommodation and support for those unable to stay with relatives.