Joint Russia-Ukraine convoy leaves occupied Oleshky to evacuate up to 750 civilians

A humanitarian convoy to evacuate as many as 750 civilians has left the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in Ukraine. Oleshky has been under Russian control since the first days of the invasion in February 2022. Thousands have been trapped there, and many have reported eating garden weeds to survive. Evacuated residents were given the choice to leave Russian-occupied territory and return to Ukraine through Belarus, or to resettle in Russia. The operation is also bringing food, medicine, fuel and other supplies. Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets says joint aid will be delivered to all residents who remain in Oleshky, and help given to those leaving for Ukraine or Russia. Russian Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova thanked her counterpart for ensuring the ceasefire was maintained. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says this is an isolated humanitarian arrangement coordinated with the US, and not a sign of any breakthrough in peace negotiations. Al Jazeera’s Audrey MacAlpine in Kyiv and Yulia Shapovalova in Moscow report. Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on X: https://x.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/ Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.io/AJEMobile #AlJazeeraEnglish #Ukraine #Russia #Oleshky #Evacuation #Peskov #News