'We came back from hell', say Ukrainians after years in Russia-occupied frontline city

According to BBC News, hundreds of residents from the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky have successfully evacuated to northern Ukraine. Many described their time in the city as a living "hell," citing years of intense shelling, drone strikes, and severe resource shortages that forced some residents to eat garden weeds to survive. The evacuation was facilitated by a humanitarian ceasefire in the Kherson region, which allowed for a brief period of safe travel for those trapped behind Russian lines.

The escape process involved a coordinated effort using a convoy of 25 buses to transport approximately 750 people, including elderly individuals who required medical assistance. Following a long journey through Russian-occupied territory and Belarus, the evacuees reached a military facility in Chernihiv. Upon arrival, families shared emotional reunions, while others recounted the destruction of their homes and the constant danger they navigated while trapped in the city.

Despite the successful relocation of these residents, concerns remain for the estimated 6,000 people still thought to be living in and around Oleshky. The new arrivals now face the difficult task of rebuilding their lives in unfamiliar surroundings with limited resources. Many evacuees expressed resilience, noting that having survived the conditions in Oleshky, they are prepared to tackle the challenges of starting over elsewhere in Ukraine.

Source: BBC News — https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqglw3k7djp1o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss