Evacuation from occupied Oleshky begins under local truce as Ukrainian troops warn of a possible Russian offensive

In brief

• A local truce between Russia and Ukraine, in effect from 27 October to 1 November at 22:59, allowed civilians to begin leaving Oleshky.
• Evacuees were bussed to Anapa in Russia, then flown to Khomel in Belarus, with four flights reported to have landed carrying elderly people, children and pets.
• Up to 2,000 people, including around 50 children, were reported trapped in the mined and bombed town before the truce.
• Ukrainian soldiers say Russian forces are moving troops and equipment toward Oleshky and fear the pause precedes a large offensive against Kherson, about four kilometres away.

Evacuation under a fragile ceasefire

Evacuations from the occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky began after Russia and Ukraine agreed to a temporary local truce. The arrangement took effect on 27 October and runs until 1 November at 22:59, according to the Ukrainian and Russian sides and the White House ("Szykują coś strasznego". Ukraińcy obawiają się nowej wielkiej rosyjskiej ofensywy pod przykrywką – Onet) (Ewakuowani z okupowanych Ołeszek już na Białorusi. Co dalej z cywilami? – RMF24) (Łzy szczęścia w Ołeszkach. Wzruszające obrazy z oblężonego miasta – Polsat News). US First Lady Melania Trump was credited by the White House with helping to secure the deal.

A convoy of Ukrainian officials and reporters crossed into the town on 30 October, and the Ukrainian delegation reported it had reached residents and begun aid distribution (Mieszkańcy długo czekali na pomoc. Popłynęły łzy szczęścia – Interia Wydarzenia) (Niepokojące ruchy w pobliżu Ołeszek, Ukraińcy alarmują. "Rosjanie szykują coś strasznego" – Interia Wydarzenia). Evacuees were first bussed to the Russian Black Sea city of Anapa, then flown to Khomel in southeastern Belarus, from where they were to return to Ukraine by land (Ewakuacja Ołeszek. Samoloty wylądowały – TVN24) (Przez Krym i Białoruś do Ukrainy. Mieszkańcy Ołeszek opuścili swoje miasto – RMF24). Four flights were reported to have landed in Khomel, carrying elderly people, children and pets.

Humanitarian situation

US officials described conditions in Oleshky as dire, with residents lacking food and water. Up to 2,000 people, including around 50 children, were reported still trapped in the heavily mined and bombed town before the truce (Rosja wykorzystuje ewakuację z Ukrainy wynegocjowaną przez Melanię Trump do propagandowego spektaklu | Najnowsze wiadomości z kraju i ze świata - upday News – upday.com). Russia's human rights commissioner Yana Lantratova said the operation had proceeded without disruption.

Ukrainian warnings of a Russian build-up

Ukrainian soldiers observing the area say Russian forces are using the pause to move troops and equipment toward Oleshky, some of them in unmarked or civilian clothing. They fear the lull is cover for a large offensive against Kherson, which lies only about four kilometres from Oleshky across the Dnipro. Footage released by the Russian defence ministry showing road-clearing work near the town has added to these concerns.

Ukrainian officials have not confirmed any new offensive, and the truce's expiry on 1 November leaves the next steps unclear.

Read also

• Co inni piszą o Ukrainie – 31 października 2026
• Co inni piszą o Białorusi – 31 października 2026
• Oleshky Evacuation Under Way as Localized Truce Holds and Aid Convoy Arrives