Zelenskyy stated that the Russians had deployed additional forces under the guise of an evacuation in Oleshky

Oleshky, from where residents were evacuated. Archive photo: 34th Separate Marine Brigade

Under the guise of a humanitarian operation in Oleshky, Russian troops have rotated personnel and equipment on the Left Bank. The Ukrainian military is to present plans for the defence of the Kherson region.

This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following a meeting with the heads of regional administrations.

The Head of State said that, in particular, he had heard a briefing on the situation in Kherson and the Kherson region.

«Unfortunately, under the guise of a humanitarian operation in Oleshky, the Russian army has carried out a significant rotation of personnel and equipment on the Left Bank. Additional occupying forces have been deployed to Oleshky and the surrounding community,» said Volodymyr Zelensky.

He instructed the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to put forward proposals for additional protection of the residents of Kherson.

The President reported that Russian troops accumulated equipment in Oleshky during the evacuation. Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy

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.

It later emerged that a direct route from the occupied town of Oleshky to Kherson via the Dnipro River had not been considered, as this could have weakened Ukrainian defences. The military were categorically opposed to this option and warned against demining the area.

In addition, it was reported that a ceasefire lasting more than five days had enabled the repatriation of the bodies of those killed in Oleshky. Among them were Ukrainian military personnel and civilians.

Following the humanitarian mission in Oleshky, in the Kherson region, the Ukrainian side began to receive new appeals from local residents asking for help with their evacuation.