Ukrainian PM: Number of people leaving Oleshky will be announced later
Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi has announced that 527 residents of Oleshky in Kherson Oblast will be returning to Ukraine. Later he apologised and clarified that the numbers are still changing, and official information will be only available once the evacuation is over.
Source: PM Serhii Koretskyi answering questions from MPs in the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament) during government question time on 30 October
Quote from Koretskyi: "As of now, the Ministry of Regional Development, in close coordination with the Office of the Human Rights Commissioner, Kherson Oblast Military Administration and the Ministry of Health, is working on this 24/7 – everyone is involved in this process. The preliminary medical examination of those who will be leaving for Ukrainian territory is scheduled to be completed by 14:00 today. At present, this amounts to 527 people."
Details: He added that following the preliminary medical examination, the information about these individuals will be passed on to the Ministry of Health. Individual medical records will be created there, documenting each person's health condition in order to "receive them as quickly and efficiently as possible".
"Then they [the residents of Oleshky – ed.] will travel via a complex route to Belarusian territory and cross from Belarus into the customs territory of Ukraine. Second check-ups and primary medical care will take place in Chernihiv and Kyiv oblasts, along with the provision of all initial necessities, including clothing, hygiene products and everything [else]. And then these people will be accommodated in various regions," Koretskyi said, emphasising that "all the premises have already been prepared".
Update: Later, Koretskyi said that he had "made a mistake while providing information about the number of people planning to leave Oleshky".
"I apologise. There are no set numbers yet. The rescue operation is ongoing, and the information is changing… This is an extremely delicate subject. People's lives – and the successful completion of this process – depend on confidentiality. We will provide official information after it is completed," he wrote.
Background:
- A Ukrainian delegation reached Oleshky on Friday. The evacuation process and distribution of humanitarian aid have begun.
- The ceasefire in the area will remain in effect until 22:59 on 1 November.
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