Under an agreement reached by the Russian and Ukrainian sides, the evacuation route for residents of Oleshky will pass through Russia and Belarus before reaching Ukraine.
Source : Lubinets, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman), on social media ; Ukrainian Ombudsman's Office
Quote from Lubinets : "I am still on my way to Oleshky. Our humanitarian mission is ongoing.
I can see that people on social media are already writing that I am on Russian territory. There are many questions and provocative posts appearing.
So I want to explain: I'm going there to be on the ground in person, see what is happening and keep you informed about the progress of the mission."
Details : The ombudsman urged people not to jump to conclusions.
"You cannot even imagine how difficult these negotiations have been, or how long they took to make sure that I am here, where I am now. But we have only covered half the distance towards achieving our goal. So I ask you to please leave all questions until I return home," Lubinets added.
Earlier, US broadcaster Fox News published a document signed by Russian ombudsman Yana Lantratova, which stated that residents of Oleshky who wished to evacuate to Ukraine would first be taken to the airport in the city of Anapa in Russia's Krasnodar Krai.
From Anapa, the Ukrainian delegation and residents of Oleshky will be transported to the airport in the city of Gomel in Belarus aboard a Russian Defence Ministry military transport aircraft. This is likely to take place on Saturday 31 October.
The Ukrainian ombudsman's office stressed that the document was not a military or political agreement.
"When human lives are at stake, saving people and achieving tangible results must come first, rather than political assessments. The temporarily occupied territories are part of Ukraine. A humanitarian mission must not become hostage to information manipulation," the statement said.
"The situation around Oleshky is unprecedented. We are doing something that has not previously been achieved in this format: seeking a way to save people who need help. We thank US First Lady Melania Trump for her assistance, coordination and concern for the fate of these people.
We therefore urge people not to create a sense of 'betrayal' where unity is needed. It is now very important to support the Ukrainian delegation and keep our fingers crossed for a successful outcome," Lubinets's office also stressed.
Previously : On 29 October, Lubinets and a delegation set off directly for the area of the humanitarian mission in Oleshky, Kherson Oblast. His Russian counterpart, Lantratova, also said she was heading there.
Background : Lubinets announced that a ceasefire in the Oleshky area had started at 03: 00 on 27 October. Russia's Defence Ministry confirmed that the ceasefire had been introduced. Earlier, the White House announced that Melania Trump had secured a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine in the temporarily occupied city of Oleshky, where a humanitarian disaster is currently unfolding. The ceasefire is due to remain in effect until 22: 59 on 1 November .
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