800: The number of evacuees in Kherson settlement that shaped new talks

Nearly 800 people were evacuated from Oleshky in Kherson Oblast during a recent ceasefire, according to US First Lady Melania Trump. That figure anchors the current diplomatic efforts between Ukraine and Russia regarding humanitarian access.

Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s Human Rights Commissioner, met with Yana Lantratova, his Russian counterpart, to discuss expanding these operations. Their first meeting occurred five days after Lantratova’s appointment. Lubinets stated he raised the issue of Oleshky immediately upon their first contact.

In an interview at a press conference on 2 November, Lubinets addressed the diplomatic tone of the negotiations. He argued that maintaining professional etiquette improves the likelihood of positive results. "I don't know of any other way to bring back our citizens than through direct negotiations with the Russian side," Lubinets said. He noted that showing diplomatic etiquette automatically stands a better chance of a positive outcome.

Lubinets acknowledged the personal friction inherent in the role. He said he personally shares the feelings towards Russia held by most Ukrainians. However, he emphasized that allowing emotions to influence the work would undermine the final outcome. He pointed to a change in address as a sign of progress. His Russian counterpart began calling him Dmytro Valeriiovych, a respectful patronymic form. Lubinets said he saw no problem in calling her Yana Valeriivna in return.

The two officials developed joint proposals on humanitarian issues. They discussed possible missions in the Oleshky hromada. Lubinets reported that Russian occupation forces did not subject civilians to filtration procedures during the Oleshky mission. He expressed hope that the two sides could extend this approach to other areas.

Lubinets said he and Lantratova agreed to ask the US First Lady to expand the practice from Oleshky to other settlements with difficult situations. The next step involves applying the Oleshky model to additional locations in Kherson Oblast.