Zelenskyy: Russia may clear Oleshky routes to steer people towards Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with the outlet TSN-Tyzhden that he believes Russian occupation forces will clear mines from roads in Oleshky, a temporarily occupied city in Kherson Oblast, so that residents heading out during a humanitarian operation are directed towards Russia. The operation is planned for a city where a humanitarian crisis is unfolding, and a ceasefire is meant to cover it.

The president's assessment

Zelenskyy said Russia will do everything to demine the roads so that these people head towards Russia and remain there. In his view, the Russians will not agree to simply let people go without conditions. He added that a portion of the population will be evacuated to Ukrainian-controlled territory one way or another.

According to him, the key task is to determine how many people are trapped and to unblock them so they can survive. Ideally, he said, they should be able to reach their destination and evacuate to Ukraine, which would provide everything they need and support them unconditionally.

Earlier developments

On the evening of 23 October, the General Staffs of Ukraine and Russia announced that a ceasefire would take effect in a designated area from the night of 27 October, allowing a humanitarian operation in Oleshky. The next day, Zelenskyy said he hoped US mediation to unblock the town would succeed, but noted the situation remained dire because Russian forces had mined the roads.

Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, urged people to send his office information about residents remaining in Oleshky who need assistance. The White House stated that US First Lady Melania Trump had secured a truce between Russia and Ukraine in the city. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russia agreed to a ceasefire for the humanitarian mission. Lubinets confirmed that the operation will take place on 29 October, with the ceasefire in effect.