Residents of the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky in Ukraine have been evacuated to Ukrainian-held territory following a temporary ceasefire. The evacuation was made possible by a deal brokered by US first lady Melania Trump.
What happened
Over 750 people were safely evacuated from Oleshky, with many reuniting with relatives at the Ukrainian-Belarusian border. The civilians traveled by bus and plane through Russia and Belarus before returning to Ukraine.
The ceasefire, which began at 3 a.m. on Tuesday, allowed for the evacuation of residents who chose to leave the city. Those who remained in Oleshky were provided with replenished food and medical supplies. Ukrainian authorities have imposed restrictions on disclosing the number of evacuees or the border crossing location to safeguard those who chose to remain in Oleshky and to protect future humanitarian missions.
Relatives of the evacuees waited at the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, where aid tents, coffee stands, and provisions for pets were available. Volunteers from organizations such as the Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, and the World Central Kitchen were also present to assist with the evacuation.
Fighting has continued elsewhere during the localized ceasefire, with reports of Ukrainian drone attacks in Russia's western Bryansk region and the Russian republic of Bashkortostan. Russian forces claim to have shot down 433 Ukrainian drones overnight, while Ukrainian President Zelenskyy reported that Moscow launched drone attacks on energy and railway infrastructure across Ukraine, leaving thousands of households without power.
