Preparations Underway to Evacuate Residents Trapped in Oleshky

Preparations are underway for the evacuation of residents trapped in Oleshky, a town in Ukraine's Kherson region that has been under Russian occupation since 2022.

The situation in Oleshky has been dire, with residents cut off from the outside world due to flooding caused by the destruction of the nearby Kakhovka dam in 2023. Former residents who managed to escape described living without access to basic necessities like food, medicine, electricity, and water. It's estimated that around 2,000 people are still stranded in the town.

The Save Ukraine Foundation has been working tirelessly to rescue civilians from Oleshky, with at least 300 people rescued over the past six months. DW spoke with Myroslava Kharchenko, a lawyer who works for the organization, about the preparations underway for the evacuation.

According to Kharchenko, mine-clearing operations on the road leading out of Oleshky began shortly after the ceasefire came into effect at 3 a.m. Kyiv time on October 27. However, she couldn't confirm whether any evacuation efforts have started yet, citing strict confidentiality measures in place to avoid jeopardizing the operation.

Kharchenko emphasized that all parties involved in the operation are being asked to maintain secrecy, as even careless remarks or actions could compromise the entire evacuation effort.

Information about those wishing to evacuate from Oleshky is being gathered through private online chat groups. These platforms allow organizers to share registration forms and application documents for people to fill out themselves. The organizers are also verifying details such as date of birth and current address with individuals who had previously expressed interest in leaving.

In addition to collecting personal data, the organizers are gathering information about the health conditions of those planning to evacuate. This includes individuals with medical conditions, limited mobility, or recent injuries, including those sustained from blasts and mines. As a result, it is expected that necessary medical assistance will be provided for those who require it during the evacuation.

The specifics of how the evacuation will take place are still unclear. One possibility under consideration is whether people will be transported through Russian-controlled territory or via the Dnipro River.

While a river route would be hazardous, there has been no confirmation that this option has been approved. Consequently, it appears likely that the evacuation will pass through temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory and possibly into Russia before reaching Ukraine. However, details about the exact route have not been made public due to security concerns.

Organizers are being tight-lipped about the specifics of the evacuation plan, including any agreed-upon routes or transportation methods. This secrecy is intended to minimize risks associated with sharing sensitive information.

Efforts to evacuate civilians from Oleshky are progressing cautiously due to concerns about safety.

The initial phase of evacuation is not expected to be completed in a single day, which could potentially set a positive precedent for others to follow.

Fears and mistrust prevail among those still trapped in the area, with numerous attempts having been made to establish humanitarian corridors or routes.

These worries stem from uncertainty, leading some individuals to hesitate about leaving during the initial evacuation phase.

Clearing mines from roads leading into Oleshky will be a crucial step before civilians can physically leave the city. The process of removing explosives is expected to take time, as many streets inside the city are also reportedly mined.

A hospital within Oleshky requires evacuation, along with a nearby morgue containing bodies that need to be recovered and identified. The fate of these facilities in relation to the humanitarian corridor remains unclear.

The identification of bodies and determination of cause of death will add time to the process, regardless of how quickly the military can work. This is an essential step for closure and justice for those affected by the conflict.

Secrecy surrounds the evacuation efforts, with both Russian and Ukrainian sides providing cautious statements that justify the situation.