--- title: "Ukrainian Civilians Flee Russian-Occupied Oleshky Under Truce" url: https://newscentral.site/ukrainian-civilians-flee-russian-occupied-oleshky-under-truce/ language: en publisher: "News Central Site" section: "World" published: 2026-10-31T17:00:19.000Z updated: 2026-11-02T12:57:28.554Z id: 012fb655-65da-46fd-b32d-85947ae5df6b source: "ABC News International https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/evacuees-reunite-family-ukrainian-belarusian-border-after-fleeing-137730820" attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/ukrainian-civilians-flee-russian-occupied-oleshky-under-truce/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story." --- # Ukrainian Civilians Flee Russian-Occupied Oleshky Under Truce Hundreds of Ukrainian civilians fleeing Russian-occupied Oleshky were brought to safety on Ukrainian-held territory after a significant truce was brokered in Ukraine's southern Kherson region. A major rescue operation has brought hundreds of Ukrainian civilians fleeing Russian-occupied Oleshky into safety on Ukrainian-held territory. The evacuees crossed the border on Saturday after a significant truce was brokered in Ukraine's southern Kherson region. The ceasefire marked the most substantial agreement since Russia's full-scale invasion began nearly five years ago. At the border, volunteers handed out coffee and warm smiles to weary travelers who had endured long journeys by bus and plane through Russia and Belarus. Residents of nearby villages lined the highway waving flags and flashlights to welcome the convoy as it arrived. The scene was filled with joy and relief as families were reunited at last. Tetiana Leonidivna, a 71-year-old grandmother, was among those who expressed her gratitude to Ukrainian soldiers for their help in escaping Oleshky. Ivan Yevhenovych's hands were shaking as he held a cigarette, his eyes reflecting the trauma of living in Oleshky for months. The 48-year-old described the city under siege, where drones dominated the skies and it was difficult to move around safely. Yevhenovych noted that since spring, staple food had become scarce in Oleshky, forcing residents to rely on their own reserves. The Ukrainian's words highlighted the struggles faced by those who stayed behind, including the constant threat of landmines or drone strikes claiming lives every day. An estimated 2,000 people remained in Oleshky when a temporary truce took hold, offering them a choice between evacuation to Ukrainian- or Russian-held territory, or remaining with replenished food and medical supplies. Many residents chose to stay behind, some out of loyalty to their homes and others due to concern for their pets. Details about the evacuation route remain restricted by Ukrainian authorities, who aim to protect those left in Oleshky and ensure the safety of future humanitarian missions. Meanwhile, a social media post from Melania Trump indicated that more than 750 people could be safely evacuated via the humanitarian convoy. Liza Paliy, 19, waited anxiously at the border for her father's arrival, having last seen him over two and a half years ago when she fled Oleshky with her mother and sister. They had initially thought their absence would be brief, but it has now been two years since they left the occupied city behind. The humanitarian mission to evacuate residents from Oleshky has been hailed as a significant success by Ukraine's human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets. He described the moment as "extremely important" after months of difficult negotiations and preparations. Lubinets highlighted the wide age range of those rescued, from over a year old to 94 years young, who were accompanied by their pets, including dogs, cats, parrots, and even a raccoon. The evacuation effort has also sparked hope for Lubinets that it could serve as a model for addressing future humanitarian crises. Russia's human rights commissioner, Yana Lantratova, acknowledged the agreement between both sides to conduct regular humanitarian missions in and around Oleshky. However, she emphasized the harsh living conditions that still prevail in the occupied city, which has prompted her office to provide support to those residents who have chosen to remain behind. The evacuees who opted to move to Russian-occupied territory were temporarily housed at a shelter in Simferopol, located within Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. Lantratova underscored the importance of offering more than just basic necessities to these individuals, who are in dire need of rest, recovery, and care after their ordeal. As part of the ongoing efforts to assist those displaced by the conflict, Lantratova has pledged her office's support to provide continued aid to the evacuees. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged international partners to supply Ukraine with weapons from existing stocks, as he welcomed US approval for the purchase of 500 Patriot interceptors. The newly authorized US weapons could take years to arrive, according to Zelenskyy's statement. The Ukrainian leader emphasized the urgent need for military aid, citing a significant increase in Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. In just two weeks this month, there have been over 30 Russian attacks on critical parts of Ukraine's power grid, causing widespread disruption and damage. US approval for the sale of Patriot air defense interceptors was announced on Friday, following a proposed $2.1 billion deal with Kyiv. The State Department explained that the 500 missiles would be purchased through donations from Canada, Germany, and Norway, without any involvement from American funds. Meanwhile, tensions along the border continue to escalate, as reported by local officials in Russia's Bryansk region. A Ukrainian drone attack resulted in the deaths of a 30-year-old woman and a 41-year-old man, with five others wounded. Similar attacks were also recorded in the Russian republic of Bashkortostan. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that its forces had shot down 433 Ukrainian drones overnight, as part of ongoing efforts to counter Ukraine's aerial operations. A fire was reported in the capital city of Ufa, home to several oil refineries, following a Ukrainian drone attack on the region. A series of drone attacks carried out by Moscow targeted energy and railway infrastructure across Ukraine overnight, leaving thousands without power. The attacks struck combined heat and power plants in Kyiv and Sumy regions, as well as four electricity substations and a gas distribution facility in the Dnipro region, causing significant disruptions to essential services. Repair crews are working around the clock to restore power to affected areas, including households in Dnipro and Kyiv regions that were left without electricity. President Zelenskyy has called on international partners to impose further sanctions on Russia and provide additional support packages to Ukraine, stressing that the world is witnessing a pattern of Russian aggression against civilian infrastructure. --- Source: [ABC News International](https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/evacuees-reunite-family-ukrainian-belarusian-border-after-fleeing-137730820) Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/ukrainian-civilians-flee-russian-occupied-oleshky-under-truce/