Ceasefire opens evacuation route from occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky
An evacuation of Russian-occupied Oleshky in Ukraine’s Kherson region is under way after a ceasefire allowed the road out to be cleared of mines. The temporary corridor gives residents a chance to leave a devastated town where gas, electricity and running water are unavailable.
A four-hour window and 25 buses are expected to carry up to 750 people, with ambulances for those with limited mobility. Evacuees will travel through Russian-held territory to Anapa, then fly to Belarus and cross into Ukraine; several hundred residents are expected to stay. The truce, brokered by Melania Trump, is due to last until 1 November, and Russia says it has prepared humanitarian supplies for those remaining.
In short
- A ceasefire has opened an evacuation route from Oleshky.
- Up to 750 residents can leave by bus.
- Several hundred are expected to remain in the devastated town.
Explained simply
Oleshky is a town in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region, near the Dnipro River. Russian forces have occupied parts of the region since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, and the town has been badly damaged during the fighting.
The occupation and damage have disrupted daily life for residents, including access to basic services. Ukraine and Russia are the main parties to the war, while civilians in occupied areas face limits on their ability to leave and reach help.
Evacuations from occupied areas can involve crossing territory controlled by Russian forces before reaching safer routes. Oleshky’s location matters because Kherson has been a major area of fighting and control has shifted during the war.
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Originally published by BBC World as “Residents leave devastated Russian-occupied Oleshky as evacuation corridor opens”.