The Russian Commissioner for Human Rights, Yana Lantratova, reported this Friday the start of the distribution of humanitarian aid among the neighbors of the Ukrainian city of Oleshki, in the Kherson region. This action is part of the ongoing contacts between the authorities of Russia and Ukraine to facilitate both basic assistance to the population and its eventual departure from the area.
The cargo includes food, hygiene products, fuel for generators, and other basic necessities, selected according to the demands expressed by the inhabitants themselves. "We have gathered what the people themselves have requested," the Russian official indicated in a video released on her Telegram channel.
Lantratova stressed the importance of this support for those who have decided to continue living in the city, emphasizing that "it is their home," and specified that the evacuation of those who choose to leave is already being coordinated, with routes both toward Russian territory and toward Ukrainian territory. "Everyone will be given the opportunity," she stated, detailing that residents are gradually boarding the buses arranged for the transfer.
In parallel, the Ukrainian Commissioner for Human Rights, Dimitro Lubinets, has confirmed the arrival "safely" of the delegation sent by Kiev to Oleshki. "Now I am in the field talking with local residents to hear their needs and understand what kind of assistance they need most urgently," he said in a message on social media, where he also highlighted that "the ceasefire has been in effect for 80 hours and remains in force."
During a joint appearance in the area, Lantratova and Lubinets emphasized that their priority is "to ensure that this assistance reaches every person who needs it" and stressed that "special attention" is being paid to older people, to those with disabilities, and to "anyone who cannot care for themselves because of their health condition or other circumstances".
Both emphasized that, both for the supply of aid and for evacuation operations, what is "important is that both sides respect the ceasefire".
A Russian soldier dies during a demining mission
At the same time, the Ministry of Defense of Russia has reported the death this Wednesday of a Russian serviceman while participating in a reconnaissance and demining mission on one of the planned access routes for the humanitarian convoy bound for Oleshki.
The soldier has been identified as Andrei Vedernikov, who lost his life during an operation aimed at checking and clearing the roads in order to ensure the passage of the humanitarian operation toward the city.
According to the version made public by the Russian Defense department, an unmanned Ukrainian drone triggered the explosion of an explosive device equipped with a Doppler sensor, which was activated upon detecting the military man’s proximity when he was carrying out the demining work.
The operation in Oleshki is taking place within the framework of the agreements reached between Moscow and Kiev, with the mediation of the first lady of the United States, Melania Trump.
Oleshki has become one of the main emblems of the destruction and famine derived from the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the war conflict. In the locality, tens of thousands of people survive practically without food, without electrical supply, and without regular access to medication.