---
title: "Ombudsman: Over 6,000 People Stranded in Oleshky as Russia Blocks Humanitarian Evacuation"
description: "Ombudsman Lubinets reported that more than 6,000 people, including 200 children, may still be left in Oleshky. Russia has not confirmed its readiness for the evacuation, even though the sides agreed on the technical details of the operation in May."
date: 2026-09-16T16:50:01.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/russia-blocks-evacuation-from-oleshky-ombudsman
tags: [oleshky, humanitarian-evacuation, kherson-region, ombudsman-lubinets, icrc, civilian-crisis, russia-ukraine]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Ombudsman: Over 6,000 People Stranded in Oleshky as Russia Blocks Humanitarian Evacuation

![Ombudsman comments on the blocked humanitarian evacuation in Oleshky where over 6,000 people are stranded](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/17/rf-bloki-evakuaciju-iz-oleshek-ombudsman/rf-bloki-evakuaciju-iz-oleshek-ombudsman-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- More than 6,000 civilians, including around 200 children, may still be left in Oleshky in Kherson Oblast
- Russia has not confirmed its readiness to carry out a humanitarian evacuation, despite the technical agreements reached in May
- The Ukrainian side developed a mission algorithm, secured ICRC support, and prepared a ceasefire regime
- Residents are trying to leave the city on their own by crossing mined fields, risking their lives
- The Ombudsman's Office has verified information on 358 people in urgent need of assistance

Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliament's Commissioner for Human Rights, stated that more than 6,000 civilians, including around 200 children, may still be left in the city of Oleshky in Kherson Oblast, which lies on temporarily occupied territory. According to him, in recent weeks his office has received numerous appeals from residents who are subjected to daily shelling and drone attacks and are suffering an acute shortage of food, drinking water, and medicine. The ombudsman emphasized that the city has effectively turned into a "death trap," from which people are trying to escape on their own by crossing mined fields.

### Kyiv's Readiness and Moscow's Refusal

According to Lubinets, the Ukrainian side has already held negotiations with Russia and developed a detailed algorithm for a possible humanitarian mission. A list of civilians planned for evacuation from Oleshky was agreed upon, and security and defense forces prepared to ensure a ceasefire regime during the operation. The ombudsman also secured the support of the International Committee of the Red Cross, which confirmed its readiness to participate in the operation in accordance with its mandate. Nevertheless, following the negotiations, Russia has still not confirmed its readiness to carry out the evacuation, which, in Kyiv's assessment, effectively blocks the rescue of thousands of people.

### Scale of the Humanitarian Crisis

The Ombudsman's Office is currently continuing to collect and verify information about people remaining on the temporarily occupied territory of Kherson Oblast. A total of 176 appeals regarding the humanitarian situation have been recorded, and information on 358 people in urgent need of assistance and safe departure has already been verified. According to Lubinets's estimate, more than 6,000 people may be in Oleshky and the surrounding area. Civilians remain daily under threat of shelling and drone attacks, while access to basic needs — food, water, and medical care — is extremely limited.

### Desperate Attempts to Escape on Their Own

Particular concern is raised by the fact that some civilians are already trying to leave Oleshky on their own by crossing mined fields, as they see no other way out of the city. Such a route creates an additional mortal danger: people risk stepping on mines or coming under drone fire. "These people need to be saved. Because the city has turned into a death trap," Lubinets stated, addressing the international community.

### International Context and the May Agreements

Several months ago, the ombudsman informed international organizations, including the UN and the ICRC headquarters in Geneva, about the situation in Oleshky, urging them to help civilians and prevent mass casualties. In May of this year, Ukraine and Russia agreed on the technical details of evacuating around 6,000 civilians from Oleshky and nearby settlements, including about 200 children. Kyiv expected Moscow to agree to a ceasefire necessary for carrying out the operation. However, despite the technical agreements reached, no real progress has been made. The Ombudsman's Office is currently continuing its communication with the ICRC, international organizations, and Ukrainian state bodies, while simultaneously pressing Russia to urgently carry out a humanitarian evacuation.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Russia blocks evacuation from Oleshky, where more than 6,000 people may remain, - ombudsman](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/rf-blokue-evakuatsiyu-oleshok-misti-mozhut-1789577195.html) - Подтверждает ключевые цифры (6 тыс. человек, 200 детей, 176 обращений, 358 проверенных), позицию РФ об отсутствии подтверждения готовности, роль МККК и майские договорённости.
- [Oleshky has become a death trap, people are leaving the city through mined fields — Russia does not confirm ...](https://unn.ua/ru/news/alyoshki-stali-smertelnoi-lovushkoi-lyudi-ukhodyat-iz-goroda-cherez-minnie-polya-rf-ne-podtverzhdaet-gotovnost-k-gumanitarnoi-evakuatsii) - Подтверждает формулировку «смертельная ловушка», факт самостоятельного выхода через минные поля и отсутствие подтверждения со стороны РФ.
- [Trap city: occupied Oleshky is blockaded, people escape through mined fields ...](https://my.ua/news/cluster/2026-09-16-gorod-lovushka-okkupirovannye-oleshki-zablokirovany-liudi-spasaiutsia-cherez-minnye-polia-ombudsmen-lubinets) - Подтверждает нарратив о блокировке города и отчаянных попытках жителей покинуть его. Дата публикации 16.09.2026 согласуется с актуальной датой.
- [The city has turned into a death trap: Russia blocks evacuation from Oleshky](https://fakty.com.ua/ru/ukraine/20260916-misto-peretvorilosya-na-smertelnu-pastku-rf-blokuye-evakuatsiyu-z-oleshok/) - Подтверждает общую картину: блокировка эвакуации со стороны РФ, гуманитарный кризис, роль омбудсмена. Дата 16.09.2026.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: How many people, according to the ombudsman, remain in Oleshky?
**A:** According to Dmytro Lubinets's estimate, more than 6,000 people may be in Oleshky and the surrounding area, including around 200 children.

### Q: Why is the evacuation not being carried out?
**A:** Russia has still not confirmed its readiness to carry out a humanitarian evacuation, despite the fact that in May the sides agreed on the technical details of the operation and the Ukrainian side prepared a mission algorithm, a list of civilians, and a ceasefire regime.

### Q: How are residents trying to leave Oleshky?
**A:** Some civilians are trying to escape the city on their own by crossing mined fields, as they see no other way. This creates a mortal danger of stepping on mines or coming under drone fire.

### Q: What role does the International Committee of the Red Cross play?
**A:** The ICRC has confirmed its readiness to participate in the evacuation of people in accordance with its mandate. The ombudsman also informed the ICRC headquarters in Geneva and the UN about the situation, urging them to prevent mass casualties.