Lubinets explained why people were not evacuated from Oleshky across the Dnipro to Kherson

Evacuation from the occupied Oleshki in Kherson region. Photo: Davyd Arakhamiia

A direct route from the occupied town of Oleshky to Kherson across the Dnipro was not considered, as this could have weakened Ukrainian defences. The military were categorically opposed to this option and warned against demining the area.

This was announced on 2 November during a press conference by Dmytro Lubinets, the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, according to NikVesti.

According to the Ombudsman, the evacuation route was drawn up in collaboration with the Ukrainian military and taking into account information from the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The Security Service, military intelligence and testimonies from people who had previously managed to leave the occupied town on their own were also taken into account.

Dmytro Lubinets clarified that the military had warned him against the proposal to clear the area of mines and open a direct route from Oleshky to Kherson.

«I was warned not to support the proposal to clear the area of mines and open a direct route from Oleshky to Kherson. «This is the front line; we will not agree to this, and we will certainly not do anything that would weaken Ukraine’s defences, so this route was never considered,» he explained.

According to him, two main criteria were taken into account when developing the route: people’s safety and the speed of evacuation.

«This logistical route was developed with two criteria in mind: firstly, safety, so as not to put our citizens at risk; and secondly, speed. Based on this, a logistical route was devised, mapped out and implemented,» he said.

It should be recalled that a ceasefire lasting more than five days made it possible to repatriate the bodies of those killed in Oleshky. Among them were Ukrainian military personnel and civilians.

How residents of occupied Oleshky were evacuated

During the humanitarian operation, the Defence Forces evacuated 167 people from the right bank of the Kherson region. According to the General Staff, people were transported via mined and damaged roads.

The last plane carrying residents of occupied Oleshky arrived in Belarus on 31 October. From there, those who decided to return to Ukraine travelled to government-controlled territory and crossed the border in the Chernihiv region.

The oldest person evacuated was 94 years old, and the youngest was just over a year old. People also took their pets with them, including dogs, cats, a parrot and a raccoon.