Roughly 2,000 people have endured years of hunger, medical deprivation, and no running water or electricity inside the Russian-occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky.
A ceasefire that came into force on October 27 at 3 a.m. Kyiv time has opened what may be the first realistic chance for mass civilian departure since Russia seized the town in 2022.
The Save Ukraine Foundation, which has already pulled at least 300 civilians out of Oleshky over the past six months, is now coordinating preparations for a broader evacuation effort.
Lawyer Myroslava Kharchenko, who works for the organization, confirmed that mine-clearing operations along roads leading into the town began at roughly 8 a.m. on the day the ceasefire took effect.
The flooding that followed the 2023 destruction of the Kakhovka dam compounded the town’s isolation, cutting off all access routes along the Dnipro River and leaving residents effectively sealed inside.
Organizers are currently gathering information through closed internal chat groups, circulating registration forms and verifying personal details, including dates of birth and contact information for nearby relatives or neighbors, given that communications remain highly unreliable.
Health data is also being collected, as some residents awaiting evacuation are seriously ill, have limited mobility, or are recovering from blast and mine-related injuries sustained during the occupation.
A river crossing has been ruled out as too dangerous, meaning the most likely route will pass through temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory and potentially through Russia before evacuees can reach government-controlled Ukraine.
Kharchenko estimated that around 500 people may ultimately leave, though she cautioned that fear and deep suspicion built up through previous failed attempts at establishing humanitarian corridors will likely deter some residents during the initial phase.
“People still trapped in Oleshky are extremely afraid,” Kharchenko noted, adding that prior provocations have fueled mistrust and that some may choose to wait before deciding to leave.
Planners are deliberately staging the process over multiple days, hoping that those who depart safely first will serve as a confidence-building signal for those who remain hesitant.
The operation also encompasses a local hospital requiring full evacuation, as well as a nearby morgue where bodies must be recovered, identified, and causes of death formally established.
Streets inside the town itself are also heavily mined, meaning demining work will be required not just on approach roads but within Oleshky before safe movement is possible.
Melania Trump has been credited by Kharchenko with bringing international attention to conditions in the town, with the lawyer describing the situation as “genocide committed by the Russian Federation.”
Both Russian and Ukrainian officials have maintained strict confidentiality about operational details, with Kharchenko noting that any public disclosure could jeopardize the entire effort before it begins.
