Ukrainian Delegation Heads Toward Oleshky for Aid Mission

October 30 ------ A Ukrainian delegation led by Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets set off toward Russian-occupied Oleshky, as preparations continued for humanitarian aid deliveries and civilian evacuations.

David Arakhamia, head of the Servant of the People parliamentary faction, announced the departure in a Telegram post. “We will monitor and report on the progress of the operation as soon as communications become available,” he wrote.

The delegation is heading toward the occupied city in the Kherson region under a humanitarian arrangement intended to bring supplies to residents and establish safe passage for those wishing to leave.

Mine clearance precedes aid deliveries

The departure follows confirmation that teams had begun clearing mines from access routes. In a Wednesday, Oct. 28 update, Lubinets described demining as an essential stage before humanitarian cargo could be delivered safely and civilians could leave the city. He said preparations were continuing with Russian negotiating representative Yana Lantratova and through mediation and coordination by US First Lady Melania Trump.

The operation is being implemented in stages: maintaining the ceasefire, preparing access routes, delivering assistance, and enabling voluntary departures. Lubinets said the purpose was to help residents reach safe territory, placing civilian lives and security at the center of the preparations.

Ceasefire scheduled to last until Nov. 1

The localized ceasefire began at 3 a.m. Kyiv time on Tuesday, Oct. 27, and is scheduled to remain in force until 10:59 p.m. on Nov. 1. On Wednesday morning, Lubinets said its first 30 hours passed without incidents, crediting continued communication between the negotiating teams.

Ukraine’s Marine Corps also reported Russian compliance during the pause’s opening hours and said Ukrainian personnel were monitoring developments. The respite extended to Ukrainian-controlled Kherson, across the Dnipro River. Regional authorities reported no new shelling or strikes on civilian and critical infrastructure during the preceding day. Emergency responders and municipal workers used the quieter conditions to reach areas that had previously been difficult to access, including neighborhoods closer to the river.

Source: kyivpost.com