Since a ceasefire took effect in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in Ukraine's Kherson region on October 27, preparations have been underway to evacuate residents trapped there.
Following Russia's occupation of the town in 2022 and the flooding caused by the destruction of the nearby Kakhovka dam in 2023, residents were cut off from the outside world. All access routes to Oleshky, which lies on the Dnipro River, had been mined. Former Oleshky residents who managed to escape and talked to DW described hunger, no access to medicine, and no electricity or water. About 2,000 people are still living in the town.
According to the Save Ukraine Foundation, it has rescued at least 300 civilians from Oleshky over the past six months. DW spoke with lawyer Myroslava Kharchenko, who works for the organization, about preparations for the upcoming evacuation.
DW: A ceasefire is already in effect in Oleshky. Do you know whether any evacuation efforts have begun?
Myroslava Kharchenko: No, we do not have that information yet. What we do know is that the ceasefire came into effect on October 27 at 3 a.m. Kyiv time, which is 4 a.m. in Russia. Mine-clearing operations on the road began at around 8 a.m. What is happening inside Oleshky itself, however, is entirely within the military's remit. Everyone involved in this operation has been asked to maintain strict confidentiality. Any careless remark or action could jeopardize the entire evacuation effort.
What I can see is that information is being actively collected through closed internal local chat groups. Registration lists and application forms are being shared, and people are filling them out themselves. Organizers are contacting those who previously requested evacuation to verify details such as their date of birth and current place of residence. They are also asking people to provide contact information for neighbors or relatives who may be nearby or in the same building, because communications are extremely unreliable.
The organizers are also collecting information about the health conditions of those planning to leave. Among them are people who are ill, have limited mobility, or are recovering from recent injuries, including blast and mine-related wounds. We therefore expect those organizing the evacuation to ensure that medical assistance is available for those who need it.
How exactly is the evacuation expected to take place? Will people be evacuated through Russian-controlled territory or via the Dnipro River? Have any routes already been agreed upon?
As far as we know, a river route would be extremely dangerous. We have not heard any confirmation that such an option has been approved. It therefore appears likely that the evacuation route will pass through the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory and possibly through Russia before people are able to reach Ukraine. For security reasons, however, none of these details are being made public.
What do you know about the number of people expected to be evacuated?
We are actually very pleased that the evacuation is not expected to take place in a single day. That is important because we hope that those who manage to leave safely during the first stage will serve as an example for others.
People still trapped in Oleshky are extremely afraid. There have already been numerous provocations, and this is not the first attempt to establish such a route or humanitarian corridor.
As a result, there is a great deal of suspicion. Those concerns are based largely on uncertainty, and some people may choose not to leave during the initial phase of the evacuation. Overall, however, we estimate that around 500 people may eventually be evacuated.
How would you assess the role of Melania Trump in making this evacuation possible?
We are immensely grateful to Melania Trump for drawing attention to the humanitarian catastrophe currently unfolding in Oleshky. What is taking place there is in fact genocide committed by the Russian Federation.
We are thankful for her efforts and hope they will help make this evacuation possible. We will be even more grateful once most people are safely removed from the combat zone and arrive in Ukrainian government-controlled territory.
When could the physical evacuation of civilians begin?
I can't say how long it will take. What seems clear, however, is that time will be needed to clear mines from the roads leading into the city. We also understand that many streets inside Oleshky are mined, so additional work will be required to make routes within the city safe.
There is a hospital from which people need to be evacuated. Nearby is a morgue where bodies also need to be recovered.
I do not know whether that will be included as part of this humanitarian corridor, but it is undoubtedly important. The bodies need to be identified and the causes of death established. That process will also take time, regardless of how quickly the military is able to work.
It is difficult to make any predictions because, as you can see, everything is being conducted under strict secrecy. Statements from both the Russian and Ukrainian sides have been extremely cautious, and that is clearly justified under the circumstances.
