Le Monde: Oleshky evacuation was Russian-Ukrainian deal, not Melania Trump mediation
French newspaper reports intelligence agencies negotiated the humanitarian operation credited to the U.S. first lady.
What to know
- Russian and Ukrainian intelligence services (GRU and HUR) negotiated the Oleshky evacuation over four months; the operation was publicly credited to Melania Trump's mediation.
- Sources tell Le Monde that Washington's actual role is unclear and the attribution to Trump may have been designed to please President Trump.
- Approximately 700 civilians were evacuated from occupied Oleshky, with some directed to Ukraine and others to Russia, following an agreement brokered by the two intelligence agencies.
“But the claim about her role should be viewed "with caution," a source in Ukraine said, because "it's not known exactly what role Washington played."”
Le Monde reporting, French newspaper · Le Monde via Meduza ↗ · Nov 1
Melania Trump U.S. first lady
Yana Lantratova Russian human rights commissioner
Dmytro Lubinets Ukrainian human rights commissionerUkraine's Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) Ukrainian military intelligenceMain Directorate of the Russian General Staff (GRU) Russian military intelligence
How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts
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Le Monde reports intelligence agencies, not Melania Trump, negotiated deal
Le Monde publishes an investigation revealing that Russian and Ukrainian intelligence services prepared and negotiated the Oleshky evacuation mission, but it was presented to the public as the result of mediation by U.S. first lady Melania Trump. Sources in Ukraine and Kyiv tell the newspaper the actual extent of Washington's role remains unclear.
“It's not known exactly what role Washington played.”
— Ukrainian source -
3 outlets first by Mastodon, 6d ago · also Meduza EN, Meduza · read ↗
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A humanitarian operation in Russian-occupied Oleshky credited to Melania Trump was actually negotiated by Russian and Ukrainian intelligence agencies, Le Monde reports. It remains unclear what role Washington played. https:// meduza.io/en/news/2026/11/02/o…
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background
Russian and Ukrainian commissioners organize civilian evacuation — After four months of negotiations between the intelligence services, Russia's Yana Lantratova and Ukraine's Dmytro Lubinets, the two countries' human rights commissioners, organize the operation to evacuate civilians from Oleshky. Around 700 people are evacuated, with some going to Ukraine and others to Russia.
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background
Russia agrees to intelligence talks on Oleshky corridor — After long refusing to open a humanitarian corridor to Oleshky in the Kherson region, Moscow agrees to talks between Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) and Russia's Main Directorate of the General Staff (GRU). The two agencies maintain regular contact on prisoner-of-war exchanges and return of soldiers' bodies.