--- title: "Oleshky Residents to be Taken to Russia or Crimea First Before Returning to Ukraine — FT" description: "According to the Financial Times, residents of occupied Oleshky who agreed to leave during the ceasefire will first be taken to Russia or Crimea before they can reach Ukrainian-controlled territory." date: 2026-10-27T15:39:14.240Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/oleshky-residents-taken-russia-crimea-first-ft tags: [oleshky, kherson-region, ceasefire, evacuation, ukraine-russia] author: "Alexander Buran" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Oleshky Residents to be Taken to Russia or Crimea First Before Returning to Ukraine — FT ![Road sign with the inscription Oleshky against the backdrop of destroyed infrastructure and scorched earth](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/27/zitelei-oleshek-pered-vozzvreniem-v-ukrainu-snachala-vyvezut-v-rf-ili-krym-ft/zitelei-oleshek-pered-vozzvreniem-v-ukrainu-snachala-vyvezut-v-rf-ili-krym-ft-1.webp) ## Key Points - According to FT, Oleshky residents who agreed to leave during the ceasefire will first be taken to the Russian Federation or occupied Crimea before being allowed to move to Ukrainian-controlled territory. - Zelenskyy claimed that Russia would organize mining to direct people toward Russia, creating the illusion of a voluntary choice to move to the aggressor country. - The ceasefire in southern Ukraine began at 3:00 AM Kyiv time and will last until November 1, according to David Arakhamia. - Dmitry Peskov announced the possibility of extending the US First Lady's peacekeeping initiatives to other combat zones. In the temporarily occupied part of the Kherson region, near the town of Oleshky, a ceasefire has been introduced, during which the procedure for the departure of local residents is being discussed. According to information provided by the Financial Times, people who have agreed to leave the occupied territory during the ceasefire will not be taken directly to the Ukrainian-controlled side. They will first be taken to the Russian Federation or occupied Crimea, and only after that will they be given the opportunity to move to territory controlled by Kyiv. ### Evacuation route: Russia or Crimea first According to FT data, the logistics of the departure are structured in such a way that the transit point for the evacuated residents of Oleshky becomes either the territory of Russia or the occupied peninsula. Only after arriving at one of these points will people be able to continue their journey to Ukrainian-controlled territory. According to the Ukrainian authorities, this procedure creates additional risks and restrictions for the residents themselves, as their movement becomes dependent on the decisions of the occupying structures at the intermediate stage. ### Kyiv's position: risk of "illusion of voluntary choice" President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously noted that the Russian side would do everything possible to organize the mining of the territory in a way that directs people towards Russia. The head of state declared that the occupiers intend to use the evacuation process itself for their own purposes, in particular to create an illusion for the international community that thousands of Ukrainian citizens are allegedly voluntarily choosing to leave for the aggressor country. Thus, Kyiv interprets the proposed route as a tool for political pressure and information manipulation. ### Ceasefire in southern Ukraine As stated by the head of the "Servant of the People" faction, David Arakhamia, a ceasefire began in southern Ukraine at 3:00 Kyiv time, which will last until November 1. It is during this period, according to reports, that the organization of the departure of Oleshky residents is planned. The ceasefire creates a temporary window for the movement of citizens, however, as Ukrainian sources emphasize, the conditions of this movement remain a subject of dispute between the parties. ### Moscow's reaction and international context Against the backdrop of the discussion on the ceasefire in Oleshky, the spokesman for the Russian leader Dmitry Peskov announced the possibility of extending the First Lady of the United States' peacekeeping initiatives to other combat zones. This statement fits into a broader diplomatic context in which both sides publicly present their actions as aimed at de-escalation, while the specific mechanisms of evacuation and control over routes remain under the authority of the occupying structures. ### What this means for the residents of Oleshky For the residents of the temporarily occupied Oleshky themselves, the proposed procedure means that their departure from the conflict zone is not a direct and one-time transfer to Ukrainian-controlled territory. The intermediate stage in the RF or occupied Crimea, according to Kyiv, could be used to record a "voluntary" choice and to manage the flow of citizens. More details on the parameters of the ceasefire in Oleshky and the conditions for the residents' departure can be found in the RBC-Ukraine report. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Жителей Олешек перед возвращением из оккупации вывезут в РФ или Крым, - FT](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/zhiteliv-oleshok-pered-povernennyam-ukrayinu-1793112903.html) - Source: FT report on the evacuation route (initially Russia/Crimea), Zelenskyy's statements on mining and the "illusion of voluntary choice," Arakhamia's remarks on the ceasefire until November 1, and Peskov's statement on peacekeeping initiatives. The transit route through Russia/Crimea is based on FT data and is not confirmed by the Russian side as an official fact. ## FAQ ### Where will Oleshky residents who agreed to leave be taken first? According to the Financial Times, they will first be taken to the Russian Federation or occupied Crimea, after which they will be able to travel to Ukrainian-controlled territory. ### When is the ceasefire in southern Ukraine in effect? According to the head of the 'Servant of the People' faction David Arakhamia, the ceasefire started at 3:00 AM Kyiv time and will last until November 1. ### How does Kyiv assess the proposed evacuation route? President Zelenskyy stated that the Russian side would organize mining to direct people toward Russia, creating the illusion of a voluntary choice to move to the aggressor country.