The Oleshky truce saved hundreds, but Russia used it to bring fresh troops, armor, and fuel within nine kilometers of Kherson, marines say
Drone footage also shows bodies being carried out of the town’s hospital under Russian soldiers’ watch, and a journalist says 47 bodies from its basement were taken to occupied Henichesk.
On 2 November, Ukraine's General Staff revealed that Russian forces exploited the six-day ceasefire around Oleshky to reposition units, reinforce defenses, enhance anti-drone security, and resupply troops. Melania Trump, the US First Lady, expressed hope that Oleshky could serve as "a foundation for lasting peace." However, the truce, which concluded on 1 November, provided Russian forces an opportunity to advance closer to Kherson, as evidenced by footage showing Russian armor and supplies moving into the town, just nine kilometers away.
This development raises concerns for marine forces on the opposite side of the river, who anticipate engaging a resupplied enemy. In the streets of Oleshky, armored vehicles were already present prior to the evacuation, alongside soldiers carrying large rucksacks into buildings equipped with basements. Upon the convoy's departure on 30 October, a single black vehicle detached to deliver provisions to Russian soldiers, according to Ukrainian military intelligence.
Russian troops subsequently removed boxes and sacks of aid from the hospital to their own positions. Lieutenant Colonel Dmytro Pulinets, the brigade's commander, informed Sky about Russia's activities: repairing or replacing artillery, reclaiming abandoned ground, rotating troops encircled in Oleshky, mobilizing fresh forces, deploying aerial reconnaissance equipment, and procuring fuel.
Pulinets expressed concern that the ceasefire's expiration would impose significant challenges for their operations. Yana Borysova, a Sky source within Oleshky, confirmed that Russian forces had already deployed tanks, armored personnel carriers, and soldiers. She reported that the hospital grounds bore witness to the removal of bodies in double body bags on 30 October, under the watchful eyes of Russian soldiers.
Skye News reported that "over 30" individuals had been taken from the hospital; however, the exact number remains uncertain. Among the deceased, residents stated, violent circumstances surrounded their deaths. Notably, no investigation or inquiry into their fate has been initiated. On 1 November, Kherson journalist Oleh Baturin claimed that 47 bodies stored in the hospital basement since May had been relocated to occupied Henichesk, citing volunteer Kseniia Arkhipova.
It remains unclear whether this figure includes the bodies shown in Sky's footage. In September, Arkhipova informed Ukrainska Pravda that Russian forces had prohibited burials, with the intent of presenting reports blaming Ukraine's army. Tetiana Hasanenko, head of the Oleshky City Military Administration, estimated the number of bodies in the basement to be around 100 at that time.
Russian authorities have consistently prevented family members from retrieving their deceased. Approximately 800 people were evacuated, though it is unclear whether the majority relocated to Ukrainian-controlled territory or remained in Russia. Melania Trump had stated that the mission facilitated the evacuation of nearly 800 individuals, without specifying their destination.
According to Sky's sources, roughly two-thirds of Oleshky's residents chose to stay, while the remaining third were evacuated. Evacuees were transported through Russia and Belarus, crossing the border on 31 October.
Written by urgent.news from Euromaidan Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
