Mine crews clear Oleshky exit routes

Mine-clearing operations began at 8 a.m. Kyiv time on Tuesday on the road leading into Oleshky, following the start of a ceasefire at 3 a.m. the same day. The operation targets a town in Ukraine’s Kherson region that has been cut off from the outside world since 2022.

Oleshky, located on the Dnipro River, has been under Russian occupation since 2022. Its isolation deepened in 2023 when the destruction of the nearby Kakhovka dam caused flooding. Since then, all access routes have been mined, leaving approximately 2,000 residents trapped with limited access to electricity, water, and medicine.

The Save Ukraine Foundation, which has already rescued at least 300 civilians over the past six months, is coordinating the upcoming departure of an estimated 500 people. Myroslava Kharchenko, a lawyer with the foundation, confirmed that registration lists and application forms are being distributed via closed internal chat groups. Organizers are verifying personal details, such as dates of birth and current residences, while also gathering contact information for neighbors to mitigate unreliable communication.

Medical data is being collected for those planning to leave, including individuals with limited mobility, recent injuries, or ongoing illnesses. Kharchenko noted that organizers expect medical assistance to be available for those who require it. The evacuation is designed as a staged process rather than a single-day event, aiming to use successful early departures as examples to build trust among the fearful population.

The specific route remains unconfirmed due to strict military confidentiality. While a river route was considered, it is viewed as extremely dangerous. The likely path involves passing through temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory and possibly Russia before reaching Ukrainian government-controlled areas.

Logistical challenges extend beyond the main road. Kharchenko stated that many streets inside Oleshky are also mined, requiring additional clearance. A hospital and a nearby morgue, where bodies need to be identified, present further complications for the timeline. Both Russian and Ukrainian officials have maintained cautious public statements, citing the sensitive nature of the ongoing military operation.

The initiative follows renewed international attention, with Kharchenko citing gratitude toward Melania Trump for highlighting the humanitarian situation. The physical evacuation has not yet begun, as crews continue to clear the necessary paths. Organizers will proceed once routes are deemed safe, with the goal of moving the 500 registered residents to Ukrainian government-controlled territory.