KYIV — According to a report by CNN, more than a hundred Ukrainian civilians have been safely evacuated from the Russian-occupied southern town of Oleshky following a complex multi-day operation. Emotional scenes unfolded at the Ukraine–Belarus border as Dmytro, a Ukrainian soldier, was reunited with his wife Larisa after 1,711 days of separation.
The evacuation was made possible under a localized ceasefire called for by Pope Leo XIV and negotiated with assistance from former U.S. First Lady Melania Trump. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly confirmed the arrival of the evacuees, thanking international mediators for drawing global attention to the humanitarian crisis.
Severe Malnutrition and Devastating Conditions
The frontline town of Oleshky suffered severe infrastructure damage and a catastrophic breakdown of basic services following the destruction of the nearby Nova Kakhovka Dam. By September, local supplies of food, clean water, gas, electricity, and basic medicines had been completely exhausted.
Evacuees shared their harrowing experiences upon reaching the border:
Severe Weight Loss: Larisa lost nearly a third of her body weight during the occupation, stating that while her ordeal was difficult, thousands of others across Ukraine continue to suffer similar hardships.
Lack of Healthcare: Other residents, including a woman named Tamara, noted that the total absence of medication and basic food supplies forced them to leave their homes despite security risks.
Medical Intervention: Dr. Andriy Zhydenko, director of the Chernihiv Regional Hospital, stated that medical teams are carefully treating evacuees for severe prolonged malnutrition and mobility injuries.
A Complex Multi-Stage Evacuation Route
Direct travel across the heavily mined Dnipro River into Ukrainian-controlled territory was impossible. Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets personally escorted the evacuees, becoming the first high-profile Ukrainian official to openly travel into occupied areas during the conflict.
Following a two-day demining process, evacuees traveled through Crimea to Anapa in Russia's Krasnodar region. From there, they were flown to Gomel, Belarus, before completing the final leg of their journey by bus into Ukraine. President Zelensky commended global journalists and civic leaders, emphasizing that sustained international focus directly saves lives during humanitarian emergencies.
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