Susanna Riva On October 31, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced, via his X profile, that residents evacuated from the town of Oleshky had arrived safely in the Chernihiv region. The operation, described as humanitarian , allowed hundreds of families to reunite with their loved ones after weeks of isolation under Russian occupation.
The admission of these displaced persons comes at a delicate time in the conflict, with de-escalation still a distant goal. Zelensky emphasized the need to maintain humanitarian access to Oleshky, stressing that international visibility is essential to saving lives.
Evacuation from Oleshky to Chernihiv: the first returns
The first bus convoys, coordinated by the Ukrainian authorities, crossed the internal border towards Chernihiv, where the refugees were welcomed by local reception facilities.
Some passengers, wrapped in small tricolor flags, wept as they were reunited. AFP documented the families' emotion, but for security reasons, did not disclose the final destination of the evacuated groups.
American mediation and Zelensky's thanks
Melania Trump's role
US mediator Melania Trump, First Lady of the United States, facilitated a local ceasefire that allowed Russia and Ukraine to agree on a safe evacuation zone.
Zelensky expressed gratitude to the “American side” and called their intervention decisive in creating the necessary conditions for the relocation of civilians.
Speeches by Dmytro Lubinets
Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets and his team oversaw the mission, ensuring that international standards were respected. Zelensky explicitly thanked Lubinets for his professionalism and for ensuring the operation's success.
Defense demands and context of Russian attacks
In parallel with the evacuation, Zelensky reiterated the urgent need to strengthen Ukraine's air defense. He emphasized that the United States has authorized the purchase of 500 Patriot missile systems , but called for the immediate delivery of PAC-3 interceptors , with a monthly supply of 100 units , to protect Ukrainian cities from Russian ballistic missiles, especially as winter approaches.
The last two weeks of October saw more than 30 attacks on energy infrastructure, with drones and ballistic missiles targeting power plants, heating plants, and water networks. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, 105 of 134 drones launched were intercepted, but the impacts occurred in 20 locations, resulting in deaths and injuries in several regions.
On the Russian side, Russian spokesman Rodion Miroshnik accused Kiev of violating the ceasefire agreement in Oleshky, claiming that a Ukrainian drone struck a civilian car, injuring two people. The accusation, posted on Telegram, is disputed by Kyiv, which maintains that the area is under the control of the Russian occupation and that the attacks are aimed at preventing further evacuations.
Zelensky reiterated the need for concrete action by the international community to ensure the safety of civilians and the defense of the territory, calling for the Patriot systems to arrive “the moment the threat manifests itself.”