Ukrainian forces evacuate another 167 civilians from Kherson region's right bank during Oleshky ceasefire
Ukraine's General Staff says 167 civilians, including 22 children, were evacuated from the right bank of the Kherson region during the ceasefire set up for a humanitarian mission in Oleshky.
Ukraine's General Staff said that while a ceasefire was in force in the Kherson region for a humanitarian mission in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, Ukrainian forces also evacuated 167 civilians from the Ukrainian-controlled right bank of the region. The evacuees lived in settlements along the Dnipro River that Russian forces shell every day.
Who was evacuated
The evacuation was carried out by civil-military cooperation units of the "South" force grouping together with local authorities. People were taken to safer locations in the Kherson region. Among them were 22 children and 21 people with limited mobility. The General Staff said those who left had previously been unable to leave dangerous areas.
Dangerous routes
According to the General Staff, the evacuation took place in extremely difficult and dangerous conditions. The roads were damaged and mined, and some stretches had burnt-out military vehicles and civilian cars. This complicated movement and demanded great caution. The statement adds that the "South" grouping strictly observed the ceasefire in the area of the humanitarian mission.
Background
The White House announced that US First Lady Melania Trump had brokered the truce in Oleshky, which it described as suffering a humanitarian catastrophe. Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said the ceasefire began at 3:00 a.m. on 27 October, and Russia's Defence Ministry confirmed it. The regime was due to last until 22:59 on 1 November.
Under the agreement, the evacuation route for Oleshky residents ran through Russia and Belarus to Ukraine. Some people went to Russian-controlled territory, at their own request. On 31 October President Volodymyr Zelensky reported the operation had been completed successfully, and all evacuated Ukrainian citizens crossed the border in the Chernihiv region. Lubinets said the oldest evacuee is 94 and the youngest a little over a year old, and that pets were taken out too.
