Lubinets Arrives in Armiansk as 25 Buses Readied to Evacuate Residents of Oleshky

Dmytro Lubinets, the Verkhovna Rada's Commissioner for Human Rights in Ukraine, said that a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia has lasted more than 75 hours as part of a humanitarian mission to Oleshky. The town in Ukraine's Kherson region is currently under Russian occupation. The mission aims to deliver aid to residents and take out those who wish to leave. The Ukrainian team is in Armiansk, where 25 buses with at least 750 seats have been prepared for the evacuation. Lubinets published the information on Telegram, along with joint statements made with Russian human rights commissioner Yana Lantratova.

The ceasefire

Lubinets said neither side has violated the ceasefire. According to him, it is the first time since 2022 that a quiet period has been set across such a large section of the front and has lasted this long. The mission effectively began on 23 October, and since then he and Lantratova have coordinated technical matters daily. After his arrival the previous day, the sides held another meeting, and they plan to travel to Oleshky together on 30 October.

Help will be given both to people who want to move to Ukrainian-controlled territory and to those who wish to go to Russia. Residents who decide to stay will receive humanitarian support.

Resources prepared

Lantratova said the aid was assembled according to needs residents had reported: food, hygiene items, medicines and fuel. For the evacuation, 25 buses, special transport for roughly 30 bedridden people and nine ambulances were prepared. More than 50 medical workers are travelling with the convoy. The buses carry water and dry rations, with a separate bus for pets and another for luggage. People can register and board until 14:00, and aid distribution will follow afterwards to avoid crowding.

Lantratova also said two people died during preparations, including a sapper during demining; she did not give details of the second death. Both officials thanked US First Lady Melania Trump for mediating.

Background

On 29 October, Davyd Arakhamia, head of the Servant of the People parliamentary faction, who is involved in organising the operation, said a delegation of Ukrainian, US and Russian representatives had reached the point from which aid would be delivered the next day. Under the agreement, the evacuation route for residents to Ukraine runs through Russia and Belarus.