Sky News footage: Russia brought weapons into Oleshky during the evacuation of civilians

The British broadcaster Sky News has released aerial footage that, according to its reporting team, shows Russian forces using a humanitarian corridor to reinforce their military presence. The corridor was set up to evacuate residents of occupied Oleshky in the Kherson region.

Even before the ceasefire began, Mykolaiv serviceman Illia Zelinskyi warned that Russian units might use the pause to return to their positions and strengthen their presence in the city.

A ceasefire was declared in the area of Oleshky to allow a humanitarian mission, starting at 03:00 on October 27, 2026, Kyiv time. A report published on October 30 discussed Ukrainian military personnel’s assessment that Russia might be preparing an offensive on Kherson during the ceasefire. The testimony cited at the time did not confirm that a decision to attack had already been made.

Now, journalist Azad Safarov has described what the Sky News team observed. According to him, Russian military assets were moved and defences around the city reinforced before, during and after the evacuation.

The journalists documented the delivery of the following to Oleshky and nearby settlements:

• heavy military equipment;
• weapons;
• ammunition;
• military personnel;
• food supplies.

In addition to bringing in reinforcements, Russian troops went from house to house looking for basements where they could establish new positions. Safarov also said that Russian units returned to positions they had previously lost.

The journalist also described the removal of the bodies of civilians killed from the local morgue. According to him, they had died in shelling and mine explosions. Safarov said he believed the Russian military were trying to conceal evidence of what had happened.

The report could not be published earlier, the journalist explained: the team first had to wait until those evacuated from Oleshky reached territory controlled by Ukraine.

Commenting on the report, Azad Safarov stressed the need to show the footage to an international audience, including diplomats and members of the administration of US President Donald Trump. The journalist said the report was important for those who believe the Russian side can be trusted.

We previously reported:

• Russians reinforced positions during the humanitarian pause in Oleshky — General Staff
• Via Russia and Belarus: evacuated residents of Oleshky reach Ukraine
• Evacuation from occupied Oleshky: everyone wishing to leave is already on the way
• Ceasefire extended beyond Oleshky to allow humanitarian convoys through
• Russians seize food delivered to Oleshky residents by Ukrainian Armed Forces drones