'We Escaped Hell': Oleshky Residents Reach Ukraine After Years In War-Torn City
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Shaking with joy, relatives of Ukrainians who have endured years under Russian occupation with almost no food, water, or electricity rushed to greet their loved ones in tears in Chernihiv on October 31.
The evacuation of residents followed a localized cease-fire between Ukraine and Russia brokered by US first lady Melania Trump.
Dozens of buses carrying civilians left the war-torn town of Oleshky for the first time in more than four years on October 30, with people choosing whether to travel to Ukrainian- or Russian-controlled territory.
The evacuation of residents followed a localized cease-fire between Ukraine and Russia brokered by US first lady Melania Trump.
Dozens of buses carrying civilians left the war-torn town of Oleshky for the first time in more than four years on October 30, with people choosing whether to travel to Ukrainian- or Russian-controlled territory.
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Less than 10 kilometers away from the regional capital of Kherson, on the other side of the Dnieper River, which Ukraine retook in 2022, Oleshky has been a major frontline town.
Its residents were effectively trapped, with no way to escape the area, surrounded by land mines and cut off from the outside world.
"We managed to escape from this hell," an evacuee named Liubov (not pictured) told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service as buses arrived in Ukraine's northern Chernihiv region on October 31.
Its residents were effectively trapped, with no way to escape the area, surrounded by land mines and cut off from the outside world.
"We managed to escape from this hell," an evacuee named Liubov (not pictured) told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service as buses arrived in Ukraine's northern Chernihiv region on October 31.
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A woman wipes tears from her eyes after arriving in Chernihiv.
"My head is spinning. We are completely exhausted," she told RFE/RL. "We don't know what to say when we are completely overwhelmed with emotion."
"It was horrifying," said another evacuee, Viktor (not pictured), adding it was impossible to safely leave the city before the recent humanitarian efforts. "The road was simply covered in mines."
Once home to around 24,000 people, Oleshky's population dwindled to fewer than 2,000 since the full-scale war began in February 2022.
"My head is spinning. We are completely exhausted," she told RFE/RL. "We don't know what to say when we are completely overwhelmed with emotion."
"It was horrifying," said another evacuee, Viktor (not pictured), adding it was impossible to safely leave the city before the recent humanitarian efforts. "The road was simply covered in mines."
Once home to around 24,000 people, Oleshky's population dwindled to fewer than 2,000 since the full-scale war began in February 2022.
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Still speechless after leaving behind one of the direst areas along the front line in Russia's long-running full-scale war against Ukraine, many evacuees told RFE/RL they still couldn't believe they had made it out of Oleshky.
"Until we got on the buses, we were still afraid," Liubov said. "We were so worried and nervous. Before that, we couldn't sleep at night, wondering how this would go."
"Until we got on the buses, we were still afraid," Liubov said. "We were so worried and nervous. Before that, we couldn't sleep at night, wondering how this would go."
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"It was so hard," Liubov (not pictured) recalled of life in the city, saying people in Oleshky didn't believe they would ever leave, with hope only kindled when their plight started garnering global attention.
"We finally began to believe it when everyone started raising the issue," she said. "That's when we believed it would actually happen."
"Until we got on the buses, we were still afraid. We were so worried and nervous. Before that, we couldn't sleep at night, wondering how this would go."
"We finally began to believe it when everyone started raising the issue," she said. "That's when we believed it would actually happen."
"Until we got on the buses, we were still afraid. We were so worried and nervous. Before that, we couldn't sleep at night, wondering how this would go."
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A woman draped in a Ukrainian national flag rushes forward to an arriving bus, crying with happiness after spotting a loved one.
Since October 27, Ukraine and Russia have observed a localized cease-fire in Oleshky, with no violations reported. Melania Trump announced the agreement a week earlier.
"Let Oleshky become the starting point for lasting peace," she wrote on X on November 1.
Since October 27, Ukraine and Russia have observed a localized cease-fire in Oleshky, with no violations reported. Melania Trump announced the agreement a week earlier.
"Let Oleshky become the starting point for lasting peace," she wrote on X on November 1.
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"I thank everyone who made it possible for us to bring our dad home, for helping him get out safely, in one piece and unharmed. I am so happy," said Zhanna (not pictured), who previously lived in Oleshky.
Fewer than 2,000 people remained in the city by the fall, most of them elderly residents who had been unable or unwilling to leave.
According to Ukraine's ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, the oldest person evacuated from occupied Oleshky was 94, while the youngest was just over 1 year old.
Fewer than 2,000 people remained in the city by the fall, most of them elderly residents who had been unable or unwilling to leave.
According to Ukraine's ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, the oldest person evacuated from occupied Oleshky was 94, while the youngest was just over 1 year old.
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Despite his age and years of severe hardship, when asked what he planned to do after finally arriving home, Zhanna's relative (not pictured) said, "I'll look for a job so I can feed my family."
The moment brought tears and sparked laughter around, with many Oleshky residents finally able to smile after escaping what they called "hell."
The moment brought tears and sparked laughter around, with many Oleshky residents finally able to smile after escaping what they called "hell."
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The residents of Oleshky who were evacuated to Chernihiv pose for a group photo on October 31.
