There are plans to send four American journalists from the Newsmax television channel to the temporarily occupied town of Oleshky in the Kherson region, where they will document the humanitarian operation and the evacuation of civilians. The mission will take place with the participation of Ukrainian and Russian representatives and under the mediation of the US First Lady, Melania Trump. A ceasefire is already in place in the town, and experts are clearing the routes for the delivery of aid.
- There are plans to send American journalists from Newsmax to the occupied town of Oleshky.
- The operation is being coordinated by the Ukrainian and Russian sides, with Melania Trump acting as mediator.
- A ceasefire has been in force in certain areas since 27 October.
- According to Dmytro Lubinets, the parties are adhering to the agreements, and the clearance of evacuation routes is continuing.
American journalists will be monitoring the evacuation
The humanitarian mission plans to involve journalists from the American television channel Newsmax. They will document the progress of the operation, speak to those taking part, and monitor compliance with the evacuation arrangements.
According to the journalist Ostap Yarysh, with American coordination being carried out by Mark Beckman — private adviser Melania Trump and producer of a documentary film about the First Lady of the United States.
Beckman is not a US government official. However, in official documents he is described as a senior adviser to Melania Trump.
Beckman himself confirmed that Newsmax had agreed to send journalists to monitor the humanitarian operation. Their presence, he said, should help ensure that civilians’ wishes regarding their place of evacuation are respected.
Demining of humanitarian routes is continuing in Oleshky
Ceasefire It came into effect on 27 October at 03:00 Kyiv time in certain areas near Oleshky.
Dmytro Lubinets reported that, during the first few days of the humanitarian pause, the parties had adhered to the agreements. According to him, Russian troops had not attempted to use the ceasefire to advance to new positions.
Demining work is currently underway on the roads to be used to deliver humanitarian aid and evacuate civilians.
Ombudsman of the Verkhovna Rada Dmytro Lubinets He emphasised that it is impossible to ensure people can move about safely unless this work is completed.
When will the evacuation of Oleshky’s residents begin?
The humanitarian operation involves several successive stages: establishing a ceasefire, clearing routes of mines, delivering aid and organising the evacuation of the civilian population.
The practical phase of the mission is scheduled to begin on 29 October. According to Ukrainska Pravda, the actual evacuation of residents is due to begin on 30 October. Residents are to be given the opportunity to choose their own destination — either territory controlled by Ukraine or Russia.
The Ukrainian authorities have not yet announced any official evacuation routes.
What is the situation in the occupied city?
Oleshky has been under Russian occupation since the very first days of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.
It is estimated that there are still around 1,700–2,000 people in the town, most of whom are elderly. There are also around 50 children among the residents.
The town is suffering from a shortage of drinking water, food, medicines and electricity. Much of the infrastructure was damaged as a result of the fighting and the flooding that followed the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station in 2023.
The local ceasefire agreement, brokered by Melania Trump, is set to remain in force up to and including 1 November.
