First to Crimea or Russia: How Residents of Oleshky Will Be Evacuated During the Ceasefire – FT

The Financial Times reports this, citing informed sources.

Humanitarian Corridor and International Mediation

A complex route has been agreed upon for civilians who agree to leave the city. The occupying forces have not provided a direct corridor to the government-controlled part of Ukraine.

Davyd Arakhamia, head of the “Servant of the People” faction in the Verkhovna Rada, said that the ceasefire along the largest section of the front line in southern Ukraine will last until 10:59 p.m. on November 1.

He clarified that the ceasefire began on October 27 at 3:00 a.m. Kyiv time as part of an initiative by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump to unblock the city. The lawmaker described this agreement as “the most extensive de-escalation since 2022.”

Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Office of the President, noted that a humanitarian mission began in Oleshky on October 27.

A bilateral ceasefire was declared in the area where the mission is taking place, and Dmytro Lubinets, the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, traveled to the site to coordinate the process.

The Ukrainian ombudsman confirmed that the humanitarian mission is being carried out jointly with Russian Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova. The agreements were reached through the mediation and coordination of Melania Trump.

Warning About Traps Set by the Occupiers

In an interview with TSN, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that the aggressor will attempt to direct civilians deeper into the territories under its control. The head of state suggested that Russia “will do everything to clear the mines in such a way that these people head toward Russia and remain there.”

He also expressed his conviction that the Russians are not prepared to “simply let people go unconditionally.” At the same time, Volodymyr Zelenskyy added that some citizens will, in any case, be able to leave for territory controlled by Ukrainian authorities.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga had previously stated that about 1,700 people were trapped in the occupied city. Local residents have long been suffering from a severe shortage of medicine and food, with no safe way to leave.

As previously reported on our website, a ceasefire in certain areas of the Kherson region went live on the night of October 27. At that time, military command urged Ukrainians to remain vigilant and not to spread unofficial information about the routes of evacuation convoys.