Residents leave devastated Russian-occupied Oleshky as evacuation corridor opens

The evacuation of the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky is under way, Russian and Ukrainian authorities have confirmed.

A ceasefire, brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump, has been in force in the entire frontline region of Kherson since Tuesday, allowing for the road out of Oleshky to be demined.

The residents of Oleshky who wish to leave have a four-hour window to do so. An evacuation convoy of 25 buses will allow up to 750 people to leave Oleshky until 14:00 (12:00 GMT), along with ambulances for people with limited mobility.

It is understood several hundred people have decided to stay in the town, despite the widespread devastation and the lack of gas, electricity and running water.

"Everyone who wishes to leave Oleshky will be given the opportunity to do so safely," Ukraine's human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said.

"At the same time, those who decide to remain will be able to stay and will receive all the necessary humanitarian assistance."

Ukrainian territory lies 5km (3.1miles) from Oleshky, but the evacuees will first have to travel into Russian-occupied territory and then to the southern Russian city of Anapa.

They will board a Russian government plane to Gomel in Belarus, and then drive across the border into Ukraine's Chernihiv region.

Kaynak: BBC News World RSS (Açık Basın / Haber Servisi)