Sixteen civilians brought out of occupied areas, including former Chornobyl emergency worker
Ukraine's human rights ombudsman said 16 civilians were evacuated from Russian-occupied territories to government-controlled Ukraine through the Novi Yarylovychi checkpoint. Among them was an elderly disabled man who had helped respond to the 1986 Chornobyl disaster; his wife died before the evacuation could take place. Another evacuee with severely limited mobility was moved using specialized transport and a carefully planned route.
Ukraine’s ombudsman said 16 civilians reached government-held territory through the Novi Yarylovychi crossing on the Belarus border. One was an older disabled man who had helped respond to the 1986 Chornobyl disaster. He and his wife stayed in occupied Luhansk Oblast; her April stroke required constant care, while his medical needs prevented him from caring for her.
Their daughter waited in Kyiv, but the mother died before evacuation, leaving only the father to arrive. Another evacuee, a woman with severe mobility limits living alone under occupation, needed specialized transport, medical aid and a discreet route. MHP and founder Yuriy Kosyuk organized the effort, with Caritas Ukraine, the ICRC and others assisting.
The return may bring relief to separated families and could highlight the particular risks faced by older and disabled people in occupied areas. It may also encourage others seeking evacuation, while placing added pressure on medical, housing and psychological services in government-controlled Ukraine. Humanitarian coordination could remain important, though such operations may carry security risks for those still waiting to leave.