Oleshky evacuation: 750 residents cross border after four-year wait

Residents of Oleshky, a city in southern Ukraine held by Russian forces, crossed into Ukrainian territory on Saturday. The movement marked the first major rescue operation under a localized ceasefire in four and a half years of war.

Ukrainian authorities stated that more than 750 people evacuated during the truce, which began Tuesday and was scheduled to last until Sunday evening. The White House attributed the deal to efforts by First Lady Melania Trump, while Pope Leo XIV urged both sides to permit aid and evacuations.

Evacuees arrived at the Ukrainian-Belarusian border on buses and planes after traveling through Russian and Belarusian land. Volunteers from the Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, and World Central Kitchen provided food and care for the people and their pets. Families waited along the highway, waving flags and flashlights.

Tetiana Leonidivna, 71, thanked Ukrainian soldiers for their help. “We love them, we love them,” she said. “We know that they are protecting us. And a deep bow to them, and a deep bow to their parents, for having such children. I am proud, I am simply proud.”

Ivan Yevhenovych, 48, described the conditions in Oleshky as difficult, citing frequent drone strikes and a shortage of staple food since spring. He noted that landmines and drones killed residents daily. He said many people chose to stay in the city to protect their homes or animals.

Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said the evacuees ranged in age from just over one year to 94. He reported that the group included dogs, cats, a parrot, and a raccoon. Lubinets described the mission as a win and suggested the truce could serve as a model for future humanitarian efforts.

Russia’s human rights commissioner, Yana Lantratova, confirmed that both sides agreed to regular humanitarian missions in and around Oleshky. She said some evacuees who chose to move to Russian-held territory were taken to a temporary shelter in Simferopol, on the Crimean Peninsula. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also welcomed the U.S. approval of a $2.1 billion sale of 500 Patriot air defense interceptors, noting that 280,000 households in Dnipro and Kyiv regions lost power overnight from Russian drone strikes.