Evacuation convoy departs Oleshky amid localized ceasefire
A temporary ceasefire facilitated by U.S. first lady Melania Trump and Pope Leo XIV allowed a humanitarian convoy to begin evacuating civilians from the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, Ukraine.
A humanitarian evacuation operation started Friday in Oleshky, a city in southern Ukraine under Russian control, as part of a localized ceasefire. The pause in fighting, arranged with the involvement of U.S. first lady Melania Trump and Pope Leo XIV, enabled aid teams from both sides to reach the area.
The convoy includes 25 buses capable of carrying up to 750 people, nine ambulances and more than 50 medical staff, according to Russia’s human rights commissioner Yana Lantratova.
"People who wish to leave for the territory of the Russian federation are gathering here. Over there are also people who wish to leave for the territory of Ukraine. Everyone will be given the opportunity to do so. People are gradually boarding the buses," Lantratova said in a video posted from the city.
Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets confirmed the ceasefire had lasted over 80 hours and that officials were speaking with residents about their needs.
"I am now speaking with local residents on the ground to hear about their needs and to understand what help they need most," Lubinets said.
Kyrylo Budanov, head of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office, called the operation "important" and emphasized that the lives of all citizens must be protected.
The evacuation route runs through Russian and Belarusian territory before reaching Ukrainian-controlled areas, prompting some residents to worry about their final destination. The city, which had more than 20,000 inhabitants before the 2022 invasion, now has an estimated 2,000 people surviving on limited food supplies.
The ceasefire, announced on Oct. 23, is set to end on Sunday at 10:59 p.m. Kyiv time. Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the pause could serve as a model for future humanitarian ceasefires, noting the involvement of American negotiators and the U.S. first lady.
Outside the temporary calm, fighting continues. Ukraine’s air force reported Russian strikes on 17 locations overnight, while its defenses intercepted 96 drones and three missiles. Ukrainian forces also claimed to have used FP-1 drones to strike an oil refinery in Russia’s Samara region.