Hundreds of Ukrainian citizens stranded in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky have returned home after an evacuation operation took them through Russia and Belarus. Oleshky has remained under Russian control since the initial invasion in February 2022, facing severe shortages of food, water, gas, electricity, and medicine. The remaining population, once numbering 24,000, had faced starvation, with many surviving by eating grass and weeds.
The city’s humanitarian crisis deepened following a catastrophic flood in 2023 caused by the collapse of the Nova Kakhovka Dam, alongside heavy regional fighting. Ukrainian authorities reported that local food supplies were completely exhausted by September. The rescue mission was made possible by a temporary cease-fire.
Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s ombudsman, traveled directly to Oleshky to escort the evacuees, marking the first time a high-profile Ukrainian official has entered Russian-controlled occupied areas since the war began. Lubinets described the operation as a complex challenge and expressed hope that it would serve as a template for future rescues. During his trip, he spoke with Russia’s human rights commissioner, Yana Lantratova.
Although Oleshky is located nearly adjacent to Ukrainian-held territory, direct crossing routes across the Dnipro River remained impassable and heavily littered with drone and vehicle debris. Instead, evacuees gathered on a Friday and were transported through Crimea to Anapa in Russia, flew to Gomel in Belarus, and then traveled by bus into northern Ukraine. While many chose to leave, others opted to remain in Oleshky or travel to Russia.
Upon reaching northern Ukraine, the returnees were greeted by humanitarian workers from the Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, and World Central Kitchen, who established heated tents, food stations, and veterinary posts for evacuated pets.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the arrival of the evacuees on social media, expressing gratitude to everyone who drew global attention to Oleshky’s humanitarian emergency. Ukrainian citizens reunited with anxiously awaiting family members at the border. Nineteen-year-old Liza Paliy reunited with her father after more than two and a half years apart; she, her mother, and her sister had fled earlier while her father stayed behind to guard their home.
Andriy Zhydenko, director of the Chernihiv Regional Hospital, was present at the border to provide medical assistance, noting that severe malnutrition required careful management to prevent dangerous refeeding complications. He added that the arrivals included individuals dealing with injuries, stroke recovery, and limited mobility.
Among the evacuees were a couple named Tetiana and Volodymyr, who arrived with their pet cat after their own home burned down during the first year of the war, forcing them to shelter in an abandoned neighbor’s house. Another couple, Dmytro and Larisa, both 54, embraced after 1,711 days apart, having been separated when Larisa remained trapped in Oleshky while Dmytro reached Ukrainian territory. Reflecting on the ordeal, Larisa emphasized the shared suffering of her compatriots, stating that many face even worse circumstances as they await peace.
