Oleshky evacuees reach Ukraine after surviving on weeds — SkimNews
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- Oleshky evacuees crossed into Ukraine’s Chernihiv region after being evacuated from the Russian-occupied city, with many arriving weak or on stretchers due to prolonged lack of food, water, and electricity.
- Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the arrival of the evacuees and thanked US First Lady Melania Trump for helping broker the local ceasefire that enabled the operation.
- Dmytro Lubinets became the first Ukrainian official to enter Russian-occupied territory since the war began, traveling with Russian counterpart Yana Lantratova to facilitate evacuations from Oleshky.
- Residents of Oleshky endured extreme conditions, with some losing 20 kg and relying on cooked weeds for sustenance, while escape routes were blocked by mines and drone threats before the ceasefire.
- A humanitarian ceasefire in the Kherson frontline region allowed a four-hour evacuation window, mine clearance, and aid delivery, remaining in effect until 1 November.
- Russia and Belarus hosted evacuees en route to Ukraine, with the group traveling through Anapa and Gomel before crossing into Ukrainian territory via the northern border.
Why it matters: Hundreds of civilians trapped in one of Ukraine’s most devastated occupied cities have been rescued due to a rare, coordinated ceasefire, marking a small but significant humanitarian breakthrough in a region where survival has required eating weeds and walking through minefields. The operation’s success hinges on continued cooperation between Ukrainian and Russian officials, despite deep political tensions.
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